The National Academies just released a new report titled Equity in K-12 STEM Education: Framing Decisions for the Future.

Overview of the Report

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are seen as crucial for maintaining the United States’ global competitiveness, fostering innovation, and ensuring both individual and collective prosperity. However, despite their importance, STEM learning opportunities are unevenly distributed, and individuals’ experiences in STEM education can vary significantly based on race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, and other factors. Achieving equity in STEM education requires deliberate and continuous effort.

To address these disparities, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Board on Science Education formed an expert committee to explore equity in K–12 STEM education and propose steps toward more equitable experiences. The committee, consisting of 16 experts in various relevant fields, highlighted that the context of STEM education is influenced by historical and policy decisions that have perpetuated social stratification. Performance assessments reveal persistent achievement gaps across demographics, which reflect not just differences in learning outcomes but also disparities in access to quality STEM education. Classroom dynamics and individual interactions further contribute to these inequities, affecting students’ learning, identity, and sense of belonging in STEM. Therefore, addressing STEM education inequity requires tackling both systemic trends and the nuanced, everyday experiences of students.

The report is highlighted by a series of Recommendations and Frames:

• Recommendation #1: Everyone has a role in advancing equity in STEM
  • Frame 1: Reducing gaps between groups
  • Frame 2: Expanding opportunities and access
  • Frame 3: Embracing heterogeneity in STEM classrooms
  • Frame 4: Learning and using STEM to promote justice
  • Frame 5: Envisioning sustainable futures through STEM
• Recommendation #2: Strategic planning

How to Use

This report feels like a foundational document to support the work of science and STEM education leaders. I’m looking forward to using this report in my work with science and STEM district leaders in my region as well as with my science methods students.

Various Links

• Click HERE to read a concise overview of the report (this is a great entry point)
• Click HERE to see an interactive version of the report
• Click HERE to download a pdf of the report
• Click HERE to read the report online
• Click HERE to order a hardcopy of the report