THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
Board on Science Education
Committee on Equity in PreK-12 STEM Education
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Congressional Briefing
Friday, August 2, 2024 – 11:00 a.m.
via Zoom
on
Equity in K-12 STEM Education:
Framing Decisions for the Future
Despite the importance of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines in the landscape of U.S. political, economic, and social priorities, STEM learning opportunities are unevenly distributed, and the experiences an individual has in STEM education are likely to vary tremendously based on their race, ethnicity, socio-economic class, gender, and a myriad of other factors.
This new report, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, approaches equity in STEM education not as a singular goal but as an ongoing process that requires intentional decision-making and action toward addressing and disrupting existing inequities and envisioning a more just future. Stakeholders at all levels of the education system - including state, district, and school leaders and classroom teachers - have roles as decision-makers who can advance equity. This consensus study report provides five equity frames as a guide to help decision-makers articulate short- and long-term goals for equity and make decisions about policy and practice.
This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on July 10, 2024 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.