Ensuring the Next Generation of Engineers John W. Steadman 2004 IEEE-USA President Dean of Engineering University of South Alabama

K-12 in the Gathering Storm l Background for the NAE report l Key recommendations for K-12 education l The American Competitiveness Initiative and K-12 actions l Implementation status

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies Rising Above the Gathering Storm Charge to the Committee Senators Alexander and Bingaman with endorsement of House Science committee requested National Academies to: Identify top actions federal policy makers could take so US can successfully compete, prosper, and be secure in the 21st Century Determine an implementation strategy with several concrete steps

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies Committee Norman Augustine (chair) Craig Barrett Gail Cassell Steven Chu Robert Gates Nancy Grasmick Charles Holliday Shirley Ann Jackson Anita Jones Joshua Lederberg Richard Levin Dan Mote Cherry Murray Peter ODonnell Lee Raymond Robert Richardson Roy Vagelos Charles Vest George Whitesides Richard Zare

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies Some Context Growing national concern about the economy –Globalization –Out-sourcing & off-shoring –Rise of other nations Friedman: The World is Flat –58+ weeks on the list of top selling books –Communicated the message

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies 4 Major Recommendations, 20 Implementation Actions 1.Ten Thousand Teachers, Ten Million Minds, and K- 12 Science and Mathematics Education 2.Sowing the Seeds – Research, Researchers and Research Infrastructure 3.Best and Brightest in Science and Engineering Education – U.S. and Foreign S&T Students 4.Incentives for Innovation

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies Ten Thousand Teachers, Ten Million Minds Recruit 10,000 teachers, Educate 10 million minds: Attract bright students through competitive 4-yr. merit- based scholarships for BS in sciences, engineering, or math with concurrent K-12 science & math teacher certification in exchange for 5 years public service teaching in K-12 public schools Strengthen 250,000 current teachers skills: Summer institutes, Masters program, AP/IB (Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate) training Enlarge the Pipeline: Create opportunities and financial incentives for pre-AP/IB and AP/IB science & math courses

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies Initial White House Action President's State of The Union and FY2007 Budget –American Competitiveness Initiative AP/IB Research Funding for NSF, NIST, and DOE Office of Science R&D Tax Credit –Advanced Energy Initiative Presidents FY 2008 Continued Support for ACI Administration actions on Deemed Exports; International Students

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies Congressional Action America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act of 2007 (S. 761, passed Senate 88-8) 21 st Century Competitiveness Act of 2007 (HR, 2272, passed House, voice vote) Conference report passed by both houses August 2, America COMPETES Act signed by President Bush on August 9, 2007.

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies America COMPETES (Overview) Authorizes $33.6 billion over fiscal for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research and education across the federal government Includes provisions throughout to broaden participation in science and engineering fields at all levels

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies America COMPETES (Education) Authorizes competitive grants for new courses of study in mathematics, science, engineering, technology or critical foreign languages leading to a baccalaureate degree with concurrent teacher certification Helps to prepare thousands of new teachers and provide current teachers with content and pedagogical expertise in their area of teaching through NSFs Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and Math and Science Partnerships Program

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies America COMPETES (Education, continued) Expands programs at NSF to enhance the undergraduate education of the future science and engineering workforce, including at 2-year colleges Authorizes competitive grants to expand access to AP and IB classes and to increase the number of qualified AP and IB teachers in high-need schools

National Academy of Engineering of the National Academies For more information PDF of executive summary and full report are available at no cost

K-12 The U.S. IS Falling Behind l Fourth Grade Academic Performance l 15-year-old Academic Performance

Fourth Grade - Low

Fourth Grade – Advanced

Math Achievement of 15 year olds

Other Indicators l ACT 2007 Results l 15% of those who had completed required math courses met college readiness benchmark l 40% of those with trigonometry l 20% of those who completed core science were ready for college biology

Conclusions l …students are not learning the skills they need to succeed in college by taking core curriculum in H.S. l …these courses lack the proper level of rigor. l While scores improved, more than half of takers fell short of college readiness benchmarks.

Changing K-12 STEM Performance l In the U.S., K-12 is state or local l Compete America is federal – limited l Engaging Youth in Engineering l Boston Museum of Science l IEEE-EAB Tryengineering.org l NSPE Mathcounts

Engineering Academies l Five math and science courses above minimum required for graduation l AP Calculus and Physics l Engineering course each year l Supported by College of Engineering l Becoming state-wide program

K-12 Education Must Be Improved John Steadman