| It pays in some respects to become a science, | | | | above proficient science levels and that 23 percent |
| technology, engineering or math teacher these days. | | | | of 12th grade students in 2005 national progress |
| The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics | | | | assessments scored at or above proficient math |
| Association, for one, announced in August that 35 | | | | levels. By 2015, the shortage of highly qualified math |
| students would receive $5,000 scholarships for the | | | | and science teachers in the United States could reach |
| 2010-2011 academic year. The scholarships are | | | | 283,000, according to 2005 National Center for |
| intended for students to pursue education degrees or | | | | Education Statistics information on the website for |
| licenses so that they can teach science, technology, | | | | the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Minority |
| engineering or math (STEM) at a middle or high | | | | Achievement. |
| school, boosting the number of STEM degree | | | | The National Association for Alternative Certification |
| candidates at the college and university level. | | | | report, "STEMming the Teacher Shortage Tide" is |
| Of the association's scholarship recipients, five are in | | | | intended to address the shortage of qualified |
| Hawaii - the American state nearest Asia. The | | | | teachers. Many school districts have developed |
| National Science Board in a report earlier this year | | | | alternative routes to teacher certification and |
| noted that about one-third of bachelors degrees | | | | licensure in science, technology, engineering and math |
| awarded in the United States are in science and | | | | - including recruiting individuals with these backgrounds |
| engineering, as compared to more than half of all | | | | from within the community, the report notes. |
| degrees in Japan, China and Singapore. The number | | | | Recipients of the Armed Forces Communications and |
| of bachelor's degrees in natural sciences and | | | | Electronics Association scholarships were students |
| engineering in China in particular has risen sharply since | | | | majoring specifically in science and math education at |
| 2002, while those in countries such as the United | | | | the undergraduate or graduate levels, or working |
| Kingdom and the United States have continued on at | | | | toward certificates and credentials in these areas. |
| the same level, showing neither an increase nor a | | | | The National Science Foundation also offers a |
| decrease, the report shows. | | | | scholarship program for science, technology, |
| U.S. Officials and leading organizations and agencies, | | | | engineering and math majors, as well as professionals, |
| such as NASA, have emphasized the importance of | | | | to become K-12 math and science teachers. The |
| the United States remaining a leader in technology | | | | foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship is |
| and innovation. In August 2007, Congress passed a | | | | awarded through colleges and universities. Other |
| law known as the "America Competes Act" to | | | | organizations and agencies, such as NASA, have |
| expand programs in science, technology, engineering | | | | established programs and events to get and keep |
| and math and to establish new programs under the | | | | young students interested in these fields. |
| Department of Energy, the Department of Education | | | | In 2008, a Congressional Research Service was |
| and the National Science Foundation. More recently, | | | | created for improving federal STEM education policies. |
| the Barack Obama Administration has launched a | | | | Elementary and secondary school were considered |
| campaign to help America progress on an international | | | | key areas to be considered, such that everything |
| scale in math and science education, an e-school | | | | from new teachers to new programs in science and |
| news article noted. | | | | math were recommended. Preparation was |
| Several proposals have been made to boost | | | | considered as important, particularly in the math and |
| America's standings, including focuses on getting and | | | | science areas. Constant "retooling," or retraining has |
| keeping students at the K-12 levels interested in | | | | been becoming a part of the lexicon lately as many |
| science, technology, education and math - and | | | | realize it is a necessity in many professions during this |
| teachers with the expertise to produce students | | | | high technology time. Distance learning opportunities |
| qualified to move on to STEM degrees and careers. | | | | might more easily allow working teachers and |
| A National Association for Alternative Certification | | | | professionals to participate in STEM-related teaching |
| report released in 2009 noted that fewer than 30 | | | | degree programs or courses that might help them |
| percent of 4th, 8th and 12th graders perform at or | | | | update their skills. |