Strategic Report -- STEM Education Needs to Start as Early as Pre-Kindergarten

BOSTON, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Students need to begin training in the sciences and math as early as pre-kindergarten for success in today's global economy, according to a report released today by Wheelock College's Aspire Institute. The report, commissioned by the John Adams Innovation Institute of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, recommends the establishment of a Greater Boston STEM Educator Consortium to provide additional teacher training.

"The report offers an actionable roadmap for students to adapt to the opportunities of the 21st century economy," said Mitchell Adams, executive director of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

Within the past year, national and local calls to strengthen STEM education have intensified.  President Obama recently announced a $250 million initiative to train math and science teachers. The federal Race to the Top funding includes STEM as the only "content" area referred to as a "competitive preference priority." In Massachusetts, Governor Patrick recently created the STEM Advisory Council to advise on STEM education issues.  

"It is imperative that we continue to invest in STEM education in order to prepare our students for the jobs and careers of the future," said Lt. Governor Timothy Murray, Chair of the Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Advisory Council.  "This report lays out clear recommendations and action steps to promote education in these fields as early as pre-kindergarten and I look forward to including these ideas in our ongoing dialogue."

US students consistently trail behind their peers in countries, such as China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Russia, England and the Netherlands in math and science academic performance.  And while Massachusetts as a whole performed well above the national average in math and science on the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), it is among the states with the largest achievement gap between different racial/ethnic and income-level student subgroups in these same areas.

Wheelock College president Jackie Jenkins-Scott offered the college's full commitment.  "This report is only a start," she said. "The real, in-depth and challenging work of coordinating efforts and resources across institutions and developing high quality, accessible coursework and professional development must now begin."  

The report is available at http://www2.wheelock.edu/wheelock/x3146.xml    

About The Aspire Institute at Wheelock College

Founded in 2007, the Aspire Institute has the mission to advance knowledge and innovative solutions in response to social and education challenges.  Specifically, the Aspire Institute mobilizes the expertise of Wheelock College and community partners to promote effective social and education policy, practice and research in Massachusetts and across the country.  

About Wheelock College

Founded in 1888 and located in Boston, Massachusetts, Wheelock College is a private institution with the public mission of improving the quality of life for children and their families. For more information. visit www.wheelock.edu.

SOURCE Wheelock College