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As states, districts, and schools implement state ESSA, all members of the STEM community have an important role to play to keep STEM teaching and learning a top priority for students.

The STEM community—fueled by 100Kin10 partners—is working to help make that happen. Every Student Succeeds with STEM is an effort to support all members of the STEM community with information, tools, and resources to catalyze action and support the kinds of engagement with education leaders, policymakers, teachers, parents, STEM professionals, and others to ensure high-quality STEM teaching and learning remain a key focus under ESSA and ESSA implementation at the state and local levels.

Our goal is to ensure that great STEM teaching and great STEM learning are priorities in states across the nation under ESSA.

What should I be saying about STEM and ESSA?

As states, districts, and schools implement their new state plans under ESSA, all members of the STEM community have an important role to play to keep great STEM teaching and great STEM learning a top priority for students.

Below are several important messages on the impacts a high quality STEM education can have for all students. Use this framework as you—and your local, district, and state partners—work to make STEM a priority in your state and/or district:

  • ESSA puts a greater emphasis on ensuring a well-rounded education and ensuring equity—and STEM opportunities are critical to achieving both these goals.
  • High-quality STEM education is essential to a well-rounded education for all students.
  • Increased access to STEM learning promotes greater opportunity, fairness and equity.
  • In today’s economy, employers are looking for workers with STEM skills.

What can I do to help make STEM a priority?

Beginning in 2017, state and local stakeholders are implementing ESSA, bringing to life the state’s priorities in K-12 education and their state ESSA plans.

ESSA implementation creates opportunities for ongoing efforts to achieve the main goal of making STEM a priority for our students, including:

Engaging in a continuous and ongoing manner with the state education agencies (SEAs) once plans are finalized.

Supporting implementation of state plans to ensure STEM learning opportunities are prioritized.

Working with state-level implementation officials and districts on the specific programs and elements they will implement.

Maintaining partner and stakeholder engagement even after state plans are finalized.

The Success with STEM effort created a toolkit (updated September 2017) that provides guidance on how to have an impact on the ongoing implementation of ESSA, and ultimately help ensure STEM learning is a priority.