The Time Is Right to Improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education

Two news items:

From the April 2007 International Engineering Education Digest

Billionaires start $60-million schools effort – Eli Broad and Bill Gates, two of the most important philanthropists in American public education, have pumped more than $2-billion into improving schools. But according to an article in the April 25th New York Times by David Herszenhorn, they are dissatisfied with the pace of change and are joining forces for a $60-million foray into politics in an effort to vault education high onto the agenda of the 2008 presidential race. The project, called Strong American Schools, will include television and radio advertising in battleground states, an Internet-driven appeal for volunteers, and a national network of operatives in both parties. The project cannot endorse candidates, but will instead focus on three main areas: a call for stronger, more consistent curriculum standards nationwide; lengthening of the school day and year; and improving teacher quality through merit pay and other measures. It is shying away from some of the most polarizing issues in education, such as vouchers, charter schools and racial integration. (See http://www.nytimes.com)

From the May 4, 2007 Science magazine:

Many U.S. educators and policy experts believe that the country's decentralized management of education by state and local government bodies is hampering nationwide efforts to improve science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. But a new draft plan, drawn up by the board that oversees the National Science Foundation, suggests a way to get around that problem without abandoning 2 centuries of local control over schools.

The proposal from the National Science Board, requested by the previous Congress, recommends creating a federally chartered body with representatives from the states, the federal government, and the education and business communities. The National Council on STEM Education would coordinate initiatives across federal agencies and work with the states to help them adopt a core set of content standards, link state assessments to those national standards, and create a system of national certification for STEM teachers.