STATE POLICy Issues

Pennsylvania

In the last several years, Pennsylvania has supported many innovative STEM education programs from kindergarten through to universities. With the change in the political landscape and mounting state deficits, how might this have an affect on students and teacher’s abilities to provide quality STEM education to them?

Landscape

Like many other large states, Pennsylvania’s geographic diversity contributes to the overall significant differences between the east, the west, the north and south. This is reflected in its STEM education programs and its investments. 
Across the state, fourth and eighth graders are at or above the national average in proficiency in math. Pennsylvania is one of the only states in the U.S. that has environmental education standards and yet this state does not test nor track student academic performance in science.

The workforce needs of this state (particularly in STEM fields) are significant as Pennsylvania is fifth in the nation when it comes to federal investments in research and development. There are many organizations that are working hard to ensure that no students in PA are left behind in STEM areas. The following partners are seen as important stakeholders in this effort: 

Team Pennsylvania Foundation has financial support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement the Common Core Standards find new ways to invest in STEM education – check out Investing in STEM education.

Their goal is to develop a coalition and regional leadership teams to meet the following four long-term goals by 2018:

• Increase the number and diversity of Pennsylvanians with high quality post-secondary STEM education and training.
• Ensure that all graduates from Pennsylvania’s high schools are proficient in STEM content areas.
• Increase the number and diversity of teachers well-prepared in STEM content areas who are working in Pennsylvania’s p-20 educational institutions.Increase public support for STEM education as a priority for the commonwealth’s citizens.

ASSET: Since 1992, this organization has been supporting quality professional development and the use of hands-on science materials (kits and refurbishment) for educators throughout Pennsylvania. With ongoing support from the state ($6.9 million in 2010-2011 – and a culminating $50M over the last four years) as well as a $26M Innovation Grant from the Department of Education, ASSET takes a core approach to education reform (science, math and engineering) using a hands-on kit based approach that supports inquiry in the classroom. Elementary school students and teachers are benefiting from this investment through ongoing professional programs and increased activities and innovative approaches on the classroom. Watch a video describing ASSET.

Activities

HOSP, in partnership with the American Chemical Society and STEM Education Coalition, will continue its work across the state with important stakeholders to include intermediary units, universities, the Pennsylvania Science Teacher’s Association, business and industry, non-profit organizations (like ASSET and Team Pennsylvania Foundation), members of Governor’s office and the Pennsylvania state legislature to explore, create and identify ways to support and grow the pipeline of students knowledgeable in STEM fields. Since the state’s investment in ASSET, HOSP has focused its advocacy interests in supporting hands-on inquiry-based programs for middle and high school, connections to higher education to better bridge young people from high school to the study of STEM areas, and engaging formal and informal institutions to ensure that the curiosity cultivated in elementary school is sustained in later years.

 

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