Explaining Florida's STEM Education Plan

Background

Horia Varlan / flickr

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. And STEM fields are the professional and academic disciplines that fall under the STEM acronym.

The 2007-2012 Roadmap to Florida’s Future has identified the need to strengthen PreK-12 math and science education, and in 2009, the state created a Florida STEM Council to focus on STEM education in partnership with workforce, commerce and education groups.

Federal Education Related STEM Legislation:

H.R.1903 : 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act
Sponsor: Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6]; Cosponsors (12)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 9/8/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

H.RES.319 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that adding art and design into Federal programs that target the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields encourages innovation and economic growth in the United States.
Sponsor: Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2]; Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Major Action: 6/21/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.889: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2011 – introduced 3/2/2011
Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30]; Cosponsors (18)
Committees: House Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Major Action: 3/9/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education.

For a full list of STEM legislation introduced in the 112th Congress click here.

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July 9, 2012

Bloggers Promote Florida Polytechnic University Independence

We told you recently about Florida Poly Vision, Inc. The group was formed to provide vocal and financial support for Florida’s 12th public university, Florida Polytechnic. Now the group has launched the Florida Poly Vision Blog. “Florida Polytechnic has become a reality because of an ongoing and necessary vision for independence,” said Cliff Otto, co-chair […]

June 22, 2012

Superheroes Want To Rescue Florida Science Education

Editor’s note: This post was written by WUSF’s Mark Schreiner. Sam DuPont and Audrey Buttice were once mild-mannered USF Ph.D. students. As part of a National Science Foundation-funded fellowship program, they’d visit elementary schools around the Tampa area and do science demonstrations. But they thought that they could reach more students by videotaping their work—they just needed a hook. DuPont says they found […]

June 19, 2012

U.S. Students Show Shallow Understanding On National Science Exam

Most U.S. students can draw the correct conclusions from a science experiment, but fewer students were able to defend those findings with data. Those are the conclusions from the first-ever National Assessment of Education Progress science exam that added both hands-on experiments and computer exercises to test 2,000 4th, 8th and 12th graders across the […]

June 12, 2012

Three Things Florida Higher Ed Chancellor Frank Brogan Is Trying to Accomplish

Florida’s 11 state universities (soon to be 12) are not one-size-fits-all. That was part of Chancellor Frank Brogan’s message as he spent most of Monday afternoon before the Blue Ribbon Task Force on State Higher Education Reform. He used a lot of jargon – “devolution,” “delivery systems,” “performance funding” – to explain what the Board […]

June 11, 2012

Florida’s Economy Has A Mixed Outlook For Colleges, Grads

Florida’s economy isn’t back to pre-recession peak levels, but it’s growing. That’s what the Blue Ribbon Task Force on State Higher Education Reform heard Monday as the panel looks for ways to reform the State University System. Panel members want to know what the job market will look like in the coming years and which […]

May 28, 2012

Report Says Florida Can Boost Economy By Getting Adults Back In School

Gov. Rick Scott has talked a lot about the need to improve education and increase the number of college grads with STEM degrees. From a business perspective, he thinks that’s how Florida will be able to compete globally and lure companies that will bring high paying jobs to the state. The Florida College Access Network […]

May 11, 2012

Hispanic Students Boost Florida Scores In 8th Grade Science Assessment

Florida’s Hispanic students played an integral part in boosting 8th grade test scores in a national science assessment. Gains made by Hispanic students on the Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) bolstered Florida’s overall scores. Florida 8th graders showed significant improvement in science – an increase of 5 percent from 2009. That means 62 percent of students […]

May 8, 2012

Search Begins For Florida Polytechnic Trustees

Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland is ready for its own Board of Trustees. Gov. Rick Scott has launched a national search for thirteen trustees that will govern Florida’s 12th public university. It turns out applicants can live anywhere. They don’t have to be in Florida to serve. “We must have a globally competitive education system […]

May 2, 2012

Lawmaker Says Quality Of Florida Universities Will Erode Without Funding

The lawmaker behind two key pieces of legislation relating to Florida’s state university system – one signed by Gov. Rick Scott, the other vetoed – talked about the Legislature’s efforts before the Higher Education Coordinating Council on Wednesday. Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, told the group’s seven members that many of their recommendations were reflected […]

May 1, 2012

Five Reasons Why Gov. Rick Scott Believes Florida Polytechnic “Makes Sense”

Gov. Rick Scott says his decision to approve Florida Polytechnic University “makes sense.” In an interview with WUSF radio, Scott provides his defense: 1. It focuses state resources “where the jobs are right now” – STEM (science, technology, engineering and math.) 2. “It will pay off ” by producing more STEM graduates. 3. “It’s the […]