Why STEM ?

WASHINGTON STEM REIMAGINING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING + MATH EDUCATION WHY STEM? WHY NOW? IN THE 21ST CENTURY, STEM = OPPORTUNITY. We won't rest until every student in Washington is prepared to succeed in our STEM-driven economy. %3D The facts speak for themselves. A SOLID FOUNDATION IN STEM WILL HELP OUR NATION'S STUDENTS SUCCEED. 3x, LET'S MAKE MATH AMAZING 61% In the last 10 years, growth in STEM jobs has been three times greater than non-STEM jobs. In the next decade, almost all of the fastest- growing jobs will require STEM skills. Yet 61% of middle schoolers would rather take out the garbage than do their math homework. IN 2011 Only 30% of U.S. high school graduates were ready for college work in science. Only 45% were ready in math. ONLY 6 We need to keep students interested in STEM, throughout their schooling. Out of every 100 9th graders, only six graduate from college with STEM degrees. IT'S TIME TO REIMAGINE AND REVITALIZE STEM EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON %231 24% Our state's STEM economy is strong and will only grow stronger. Washington ranks #1 in the concentration of STEM jobs. By 2018, we'll see a 24% increase in STEM jobs - seven points above the national average. In Washington, the mismatch between the skills required for available jobs and individuals with those skills is growing faster than in every state but one: Delaware. 49th OUT OF 50 4th VS. 46th 30,000 JOBS IN WASHINGTON WILL GO UNFILLED Washington ranks 4th in the country for technology-based corporations. And 46th for participation in science and engineering graduate programs. Between 2012 and 2017, almost 30,000 jobs in Washington will go unfilled due to a lack of qualified STEM candidates. 2 HOURS WE CAN DO BETTER Almost half of Washington's 4th grade teachers report teaching science less than two hours per week. Only four states reported less science instruction. Washington's achievement gap ranks in the top 10 nationally. SOURCES: U.S. Chamber. of Commerce, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Raytheon Corporation, ACT, Inc., National Center for Education Statistics, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau, America's Edge, TechAlliance, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) PASS ALONG THE POWER OF STEM. JOIN US AT washingtonstem.org.