Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education

America must provide students with a strong education in science, technology, engineering, and 

mathematics (STEM) to prepare them to succeed in the global economy. Despite an annual 

federal investment of almost $3 billion, too many American students are unprepared in math 

and science, particularly students from underrepresented groups, and the nation’s STEM 

workforce needs are not being met. Reform in this area is stymied by the Federal’s 

government’s fragmented approach to STEM education, which is reflected by Federal 

investments in over 220 programs across 13 different agencies. 

To facilitate a cohesive national strategy, the Administration is proposing a comprehensive 

reorganization of STEM education programs to increase the impact of Federal investments in 

four areas: K-12 instruction, undergraduate education, graduate fellowships, and education 

activities that typically take place outside the classroom. The reorganization involves 

consolidating or restructuring 114 STEM education programs across 11 agencies and improving 

the delivery, impact, and visibility of STEM efforts. Nearly $180 million will be redirected from 

consolidated programs to the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation 

(NSF), and the Smithsonian Institution to implement initiatives in the four core reform areas. 

NSF will focus on improving the delivery of undergraduate STEM education and reforming 

graduate fellowships. The Smithsonian Institution will improve the reach of federally supported 

informal education activities, and help align those activities with State standards so that they are 

relevant to what students are learning in the classroom. The Department of Education will lead 

the following initiatives to improve K-12 STEM instruction:

• STEM Innovation Networks ($150 million). This program will provide competitive 

grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) in partnership with institutions of higher 

education, nonprofit organizations, other public agencies, and businesses to increase the 

number of students who are effectively prepared for postsecondary education and careers in 

STEM fields. Eligible partnerships will develop comprehensive plans for identifying, 

developing, testing and implementing evidence-based practices to provide rich STEM 

learning opportunities for students in participating LEAs and schools. To support the 

implementation of these plans, STEM Innovation Networks (STEM-INs) will employ of 

wide range of strategies—depending on local needs— in areas such as the recruitment, 

preparation, and professional development of effective STEM educators; the development 

and testing of teaching and learning models that enable students to successfully meet STEMfocused college- and career-ready standards; and student engagement in STEM subjects. 

• The STEM Virtual Learning Network (approximately $5 million). The STEM Virtual 

Learning Network (STEM-VLN) will create a professional learning community of STEM 

educators. This community, operating primarily but not exclusively online, will enable 

STEM educators to share innovative STEM content, effective STEM teaching strategies, and 
research on STEM education. The funding for the STEM-VLN will come from a set aside 

from the larger STEM-INs program. 

• STEM Master Teacher Corps ($35 million). In July 2012, the President proposed 

creating a national STEM Master Teacher Corps that would enlist America’s best and 

brightest science and math teachers to improve STEM education. The Corps would 

recognize and reward the most accomplished STEM educators by offering them 

membership in a national community of talented STEM educators, opportunities to serve as 

instructional leaders in their schools and communities, and additional pay in exchange for 

their leadership and service. The President’s budget request includes $35 million to pilot the 

STEM Master Teacher Corps before it is taken to scale. 

• STEM Teacher Pathways ($80 million). To support the President’s ambitious goal of 

preparing 100,000 excellent STEM teachers over the next decade, STEM Teacher Pathways

will provide competitive grants to recruit and train effective and highly effective STEM 

teachers for high-need schools. 

• Effective Teaching and Learning: STEM ($150 million). Formerly the Mathematics and 

Science Partnerships program, this program will fund partnerships between local education 

authorities (LEAs) and institutions of higher education (IHEs) that will help States improve 

teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Funds will be 

used to support State implementation of comprehensive, evidence-based plans; professional 

development that aligns Federal, State, and local resources to promote high-quality STEM 

instruction; and for subgrants to high-need LEAs to support comprehensive STEM 

instruction in the grades and schools with the greatest needs.

• Fund for the Improvement of Education ($30 million). These funds will be used to 

expand the Improving Mathematics Achievement and Transition to College from High 

School (IMATCH) program, a joint initiative between ED and NSF. The program will help

develop, evaluate, and scale up effective practices that increase student achievement in 

mathematics during the critical transition period from the last two years of high school 

through the first two years of college.