News Brief
CCSSO Joins New Coalition to Boost STEM Graduates
By Abby HexterCCSSO has joined a new coalition aimed at boosting STEM graduates and jobs throughout the country. inSPIRE STEM USA is co-chaired by former New Hampshire Senator John E. Sununu and Maria Cardona, a former adviser to the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and surrogate for both of Barack Obama's presidential campaigns. STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs are expected to grow by 17 percent during the decade ending in 2018, compared to just 9.8 percent-growth in non-STEM jobs. But at the current pace, the U.S. won't be able to produce enough workers to fill the jobs. In 2008, just four percent of all bachelor's degrees were awarded in engineering. In China, 31 percent of all bachelor's degrees were in engineering and throughout all of Asia the percentage was 19 percent.
"As a national organization that supports state leadership in education policy, CCSSO promotes thoughtful approaches to improving U.S. education systems," said CCSSO Executive Director, Chris Minnich. "Improving STEM education is a national priority that requires an increased focus at the federal, state, and local levels. CCSSO is pleased to join inSPIRE as we work together to strengthen educational pipelines for STEM students across the country." For more information about inSPIRE STEM USA, please click here.
On January 29, Senators Hatch (R-UT), Klobuchar (D-MN), Rubio (R-FL), and Coons (D-DE) introduced the "Immigration Innovation Act of 2013." This bipartisan legislation seeks to address America's current STEM jobs gap through targeted reforms to high-skilled immigrant visa programs, significantly increase visa fees for companies that hire such workers, and dedicate these new fees (up to $500 million per year) to an education formula program that would support state implementation of STEM education programs to bolster our domestic STEM pipeline. CCSSO is working closely with Hill staff and the inSPIRe coalition to deliver these new funds to state chiefs in this Congress. To read more about the proposed legislation view this New York Times article.