STATE POLICy Issues

California

Education and workforce are intricately linked in this diverse, large and multi-cultural state – how do students and teachers excel?

Landscape

With serious budget issues and a state known for its innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities, California hangs in the balance between job creation, population flight and an emerging workforce that lacks the knowledge, skills and abilities to compete for current and future jobs in science, technology and engineering. 23% of its students meet or are above proficiency in math, and the middle school population falls in the lower half of the national average in overall science scores, and over 50% of the schools receive Title1 support. In recent years, California is graduating more high school seniors (81% of all student graduate) but less of those high school graduates go on to pursue a college degree.

There is general concern in the state over the quality and investment in STEM education on the part of business/industry, higher education and at the state level. This concern has led to some recent activity that may assist California with addressing some of the current and future workforce and opportunity needs in the state.

Activities

HOSP, ACS, the STEM Education Coalition, California Science Teacher’s Association (CAST), and others have joined forces to create the California Task Force on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to “advise the California Legislature on critical research, best practices, and models for building a future CA workforce educated in the science technology engineering and mathematics fields.”

As the legislative and citizen members are approved, the group will collaborate to share insights and strategies to address some of the California education and workforce short falls.

HOSP is always looking for ways to support the great work in STEM across the U.S. Do you have a story you want to tell, an organization or idea that is doing good work or legislation that you would like some advocacy help with? We want to help!
Please email us at info@handsonsciencepartnership.com