4 Reasons to Worry About the STEM Crisis in Education

There’s little debate that producing a stronger workforce capable of creating the next generation of technological advances is essential for strengthening our country’s global competitiveness. US public schools are the primary conduit for producing students with the necessary skills in science, technology, engineering and math (or STEM) to be the next leaders in science and engineering. But with a widening shortage of graduates entering STEM fields, there are reasons to worry whether the US workforce will continue to be at the forefront of STEM technology in the future.

Here are four reasons why we should worry about the STEM crisis:

Lack of Quality Math and Science Teachers

An analysis of a National Academies Press study showed over two-thirds of middle school students are taught math by teachers without a mathematics degree or certification. Ninety-three percent of those students are taught science by teachers with no degree or certification in science. Certification and training programs for teachers without STEM degrees are readily available. Many Master of Arts in teaching programs are designed to train professionals with no teaching experience wanting to transition into teaching. Yet school systems often cite the lack of funding to attract experienced STEM professionals or provide development for existing teachers in these fields.

Common Core Math Fails to Prepare Students for STEM Majors 

Common Core standards were implemented to replace inferior individual state standards and produce college ready high school students. But a recent study published by the Pioneer Institute shows Common Core does not adequately prepare students for STEM majors. The study concluded “With the exception of a few standards in trigonometry, the math standards end after Algebra II. They include no precalculus or calculus.” Why does that matter? Statistics show for every fifty STEM majors who begin their college coursework at the precalculus level or below, only one will graduate with a STEM degree.

High School Students Aren’t Interested in STEM Majors

The US Department of Commerce estimates STEM occupations are expected to grow seventeen percent from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 percent for non-STEM occupations. With STEM workers earning twenty-six percent more than their non-STEM counterparts, colleges should be cranking out STEM graduates in droves, right? Wrong. Despite the potential for higher earnings and growing job demand, a brief published by the Business Higher Education Forum showed only seventeen percent of twelfth grade students proficient in math were interested in pursuing a STEM major in college.

Schools Cannot Retain College STEM Students

Nationally, 40 percent of all students who enter college majoring in a STEM field leave the major. This loss is especially felt among minority, female and low-income students. When delving into the reasons students fail to matriculate in STEM fields, many undergraduates feel unprepared to tackle introductory mathematics and science.

Addressing the issues that confront STEM education starts with ensuring the instruction our students receive inspires and enables them to become leading innovators in math and science. Remaining disengaged or denying these challenges exist will only continue to threaten the United States’ role as a leader in STEM technology.

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