StemReportNotes

=A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education System.= //October 3, 2007// The National Science Board (NSB) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) The board held three public hearings around the country and established a federal advisory committee—the Commission on 21st Century Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, co-chaired by **Leon Lederman** and **Shirley Malcom**—to provide advice as the NSB developed its action plan.

Some Previous Reports:

 * Educating Americans for the 21st Century: A plan of action for improving mathematics, science, and technology education for all American elementary and secondary students so that their achievement is the best in the world by 1995
 * A Commitment to America's Future: Responding to the Crisis in Mathematics & Science Education //January 2004//
 * America's Pressing Challenge - Building A Stronger Foundation //January 2006//
 * Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future //2006//

Two Challenges

 * Ensuring coherence in STEM learning
 * Collaboration and Communication
 * Horizontal and Vertical
 * Horizontal
 * define essential knowledge and skills at each grade level
 * develop assessments that assess knowledge and skills appropriate for each grade level
 * provide a forum to share best practices in teaching and learning
 * Vertical
 * improve links between school and post-school (college & the workforce)
 * Ensuring an adequate supply of well-prepared and highly effective STEM teachers
 * professional development resources

Goals

 * A scientifically and technologically literate society
 * A STEM prepared workforce because these are areas that are increasingly required in our workforce
 * Colleges and universities prepare this work force. //So then our job may be to prepare students to enter college and pursue STEM related careers.//