Bill to establish office of STEM education.

• Author: Miller, Cynthia D.
• Position: STEM NEWS: SCIENCE * TECHNOLOGY * ENGINEERING * MATHEMATICS - Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Act of 2009

It's a sad but commonly known fact that the United States is lagging behind in the creation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Recent data show that roughly 15 percent of U.S. college students earn degrees in engineering or the natural sciences.

Women and minorities represent a disproportionately small percentage of that group. Meanwhile, the pool of math and science educators is neither sufficient nor keeping pace with the needs of burgeoning scientific and technological communities.

That's not to say that the nation isn't taking action. The government has more than a dozen agencies dedicated to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives with more than $3 billion allocated to these efforts in 2006. Concurrently, national and state education systems at every level have created STEM programs, and businesses and special interest groups also have official and unofficial mentoring and education programs within their own organizations.

And yet, if none of these groups is communicating with others, how much progress can really be achieved? The government's answer to this dilemma is H.R. 2710, "Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Act of 2009," which was recently introduced in Congress. After reviewing statistics showing that more than half of the growth in gross domestic product is garnered by innovations generated by STEM fields, Congress is considering the creation of a new office charged with strengthening partnerships between federal and state governments, the private sector, nonprofit organizations and the education community.

The committee on STEM education, which is housed within the office of science and technology policy in the executive office, would coordinate the efforts of all federal and state agencies focused on STEM...