The Federal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Portfolio. A Report from the Federal Inventory of STEM Education Fast-Track Action Committee Committee on STEM Education National Science and Technology Council

Overview & Synopsis

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) coordinates Federal programs and activities in support of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education pursuant to the requirements of Sec. 101 of the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology Education and Science) Reauthorization Act of 2010. The responsibilities of the CoSTEM cover education and workforce policy issues and research and development efforts that focus on STEM education issues at the Pre-K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and lifelong learning levels, as well as current and projected STEM workforce needs, trends, and issues. The three functions of the CoSTEM are to review Federal STEM education activities and programs and the respective assessments of each; coordinate, with the Office of Management and Budget, STEM education activities and programs throughout Federal agencies; and develop and implement through the participating agencies a 5-year STEM education strategic plan, to be updated every 5 years. This report details the results of the initial CoSTEM inventory of Federal STEM education investments. The Fast-Track Action Committee on Federal Investment in STEM Education was chartered to develop the inventory process, analyze the inventory results, and draft the inventory report with the oversight of the CoSTEM. The membership of the fast-track action committee included representatives from the same 11 Federal agencies that comprise the CoSTEM. This report includes detailed information on STEM education investments in order to identify duplication, overlap, and fragmentation in the Federal STEM education portfolio, illustrate distinct characteristics of investments, identify areas of potential synergy across and within agencies, support the sharing of effective STEM education strategies and evaluation techniques, increase awareness of education investments within and across Federal agencies, and support the development of a Federal five-year strategic STEM education plan. Appended are: (1) List of Investments; (2) Agency Details; (3) Supplementary Figures and Tables; (4) NSTC Inventory Survey; and (5) Glossary. (Contains 46 figures, 30 tables, 1 box and 30 footnotes.)