EDUCATION
We support policies that foster reform and investments in education that improve early childhood education, increase the literacy rates, reduce the high school dropout rate, enhance college affordability, and ensure a highly skilled workforce for American businesses, particularly those policies that strengthen science and math education and increase the number of Americans attaining degrees in science, engineering and technology.
In partnership with our members, leading think tanks, trade groups and education advocates, Business Forward will hold briefings for business leaders interested in getting involved with education reforms. Our research will focus on establishing rigorous, internationally-benchmarked standards; improving high school and college graduation rates; making college more affordable; updating our curriculum; and building capacity in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.
In our July meeting, Business Forward members heard from White House science and technology advisor Tom Kalil about the Obama Administration’s plans to promote STEM education. Michele Jolin of the White Office of Social Innovation also briefed the membership on her team’s efforts to identify and scale promising education programs.
BRIDGING THE GAP IN EDUCATION
A 2007 survey by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a coalition of leading companies (including Business Forward members Microsoft & HP) and the National Education Association demonstrates the clear gap between what America values in education and what it believes its schools are providing. It shows our growing understanding that today’s schools must adapt to serve our highly competitive, global and technology-driven economy.
ADOPTING A 21st CENTURY SKILLS FRAMEWORK
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has developed policy guidance for states and school districts seeking to reduce this gap. The organization promotes a wide range of content, skills and testing recommendations, but its point of view is captured in the following chart:
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (STEM)
The U.S. must improve student achievement in math and science. Currently, we now score in the bottom half of the OECD in each subject (and ninth out of 29 in reading comprehension). Business must challenge Americans to dramatically increase support for math and science education.
Here are examples of public/private partnerships seeking to address this problem:
Offering support throughout a student’s career. A joint venture by the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation is designed to promote science, engineering, and entrepreneurship – with programs and scholarships from grade school to graduate school. The private sector will offer research opportunities for students, allowing them to work with employers in their chosen field.
Connecting STEM and energy security. This Department of Energy and National Science Foundation initiative will boost STEM learning and direct sponsorships, scholarships and lab grants towards the study of renewable power, carbon capture and sequestration, advanced batteries, smart grids and more energy efficient building materials.
Connecting STEM and teaching certificates. Several reform proposals would work with the private sector and universities to create special programs that allow students to get a STEM degree and a teaching certificate at the same time. Other programs would make it easier for mid-career workers to qualify for teaching positions more easily.
360-degree recruitment campaigns-- organized with the help of leading media companies-- will encourage our best students to study STEM subjects will combine scholarships and real-life application with new media, social networking, classroom curriculum and partnerships with local employers.
PROGRESS
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress invested heavily in education, both as a way to create jobs now and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity.
1) $5 billion for early learning programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and programs for children with special needs.
2) $77 billion for reforms to strengthen elementary and secondary education, by:
- Improving teacher effectiveness and ensuring that all schools have highly-qualified teachers;
- Making progress toward college and career-ready standards and rigorous assessments that will improve both teaching and learning;
- Improving achievement in low-performing schools, through intensive support and effective interventions;
- Gathering information to improve student learning, teacher performance, and college and career readiness through enhanced data systems.
3) $5 billion in competitive funds to spur innovation and chart ambitious reform to close the achievement gap.
4) $30 billion to address college affordability and improve access to higher education.
Best Practices
Michael Lach, Science and Math Advisor, U.S. Department of Education
"There’s incredible energy and enthusiasm around Science and Mathematics Education and taking that back gives me a charge and will help me communicate what’s happening."Randall Stephenson, AT&T - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
AT&T Aspire is the largest education initiative in AT&T’s history, and it is one of the largest corporate investments in high school success and workforce readiness. I asked myself, "How do I take all of the learning on my job and bring that to the classroom in a way where we can re-imagine vocational education. And, that is the purpose of SEE."Recent Posts
Hosted by Founding Member, AT&T and featuring Lockheed Martin and Ecko/Sweat Equity Enterprises.
Issues
