President Donald J. Trump is Working to Ensure All Americans Have Access to STEM Education

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Category: News

Washington, DC - "My Administration will do everything possible to provide our children, especially kids in underserved areas, with access to high-quality education in science, technology, engineering, and math." ~ President Donald J. Trump

IMPROVING STEM EDUCATION: President Donald J. Trump is releasing a plan to strengthen education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

  • The President’s plan seeks to ensure that all Americans have access to quality STEM education and safeguard America’s place as the global leader in STEM innovation and employment.
  • The Administration’s goals include building a strong foundation of STEM literacy, increasing diversity in STEM careers, and preparing the STEM workforce of the future.
  • The plan lays out key pathways to achieve these goals, including:
    • Developing and enriching strategic STEM partnerships
    • Engaging students where disciplines converge
    • Advancing computational thinking as a critical skill for America’s future workforce

REALIZING A SHARED VISION: The plan advances the shared goal of educators and the Administration to improve STEM education and employment opportunities.

  • The plan was developed by the National Science and Technology Council Committee on STEM Education and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
  • The Administration engaged extensively with the education community in developing this plan, listening to their concerns and experiences.
    • This effort included hosting a State-Federal STEM Education Summit that brought together STEM education specialists from all 50 States.

EXPANDING STEM OPPORTUNITIES: This plan continues President Trump’s commitment to expand STEM education and employment opportunities for all Americans.

  • Since taking office, President Trump has worked to improve STEM education, increase STEM employment, and prepare our workers and students for the jobs of the future.
  • The President established the National Council for the American Worker to develop a strategy to ensure American students and workers have access to the training and education they need.
  • President Trump signed the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to support career and technical education programs for American students.
  • In June 2017, President Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the Department of Education to make STEM and computer science education a top priority.
    • The President’s memorandum called for the Secretary of Education to set a goal of devoting at least $200 million per year toward STEM education.
    • In FY 2018, the Department spent $279 million in discretionary STEM grants.
  • President Trump has worked to advance opportunities for women in STEM careers.
    • The President signed the INSPIRE Act directing NASA to encourage women to study STEM and to pursue aerospace careers.
    • President Trump signed legislation enabling the National Science Foundation to better support women inventors.