STEM education is an approach to teaching and learning that integrates the content and skills of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through inquiry, logical reasoning, collaboration, and investigation.

Why STEM?

• In the next five years, STEM jobs are projected to grow twice as quickly as jobs in other fields. (U.S. Department of Labor, 2009)

• 80% of jobs in the next decade will require technical skills. (Why the Focus on STEM? The Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council, 2011)

• The U.S. will have over 1 million job openings in STEM-related fields by 2018 (U.S. Bureau of Statistics, 2009); yet only 16% of U.S. bachelor’s degrees will specialize in STEM. (U.S. Bureau of Statistics, 2010)

• To put these numbers into perspective, only 6% of the 3.8 million 9th graders in the U.S. end up choosing a STEM degree in college (U.S. Department of Labor, 2009).