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How can organizations get involved
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Executive Summary
The problem in
Maryland is that although we now have enviable prosperity and a
strong knowledge-based economy, competing states significantly out-produce
us in terms of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) graduates, STEM workforce development, and STEM-based economic
development.
If present trends continue, our competitors will overtake us. For
Maryland, standing still is falling behind. Maryland Governor Martin
O’Malley recognizes the urgency of the current climate of competitiveness
and charged a Task Force with making recommendations aimed at establishing
Maryland as a global leader in the development of its workforce
of the future and its STEM-based research and economic development
infrastructure.
This report is a response to the Governor’s charge. It is a call
to action, urging Maryland to adopt a set of initiatives, with international
benchmarking, to ensure that the state is globally, not just nationally,
competitive. The report calls for higher performance standards in
teaching and learning and greater productivity in transforming the
state’s high volume of research and development (R&D) activity into
economic growth and job creation.
Specifically, this report sets higher expectations for teaching
and learning at all levels of the education spectrum; the expansion
of the degree-seeking and degree-completing pipeline in STEM-related
fields, including STEM teaching; the development of strategies to
link education, workforce creation, research, and economic development;
and the creation of measurable goals, benchmarks, and resources
to implement this plan.
To carry out its charge, the Task Force divided into three workgroups:
STEM education, STEM workforce development, and translational research
and economic development. Each workgroup studied and developed recommendations
in its assigned area. The Task Force then came together, reaching
broad consensus on the most essential steps Maryland must take,
grounding its recommendations in evidence-based research reports
and analysis of state data.
The Task Force is pleased to offer the following seven recommendations:
1. Align P-12 STEM curriculum with college requirements and workplace
expectations in order to prepare all students for postsecondary
success.
2. Triple the number of teachers in STEM shortage areas who are
prepared in Maryland programs, increase their five-year retention
rate from an estimated 50% to 75%, and enhance the STEM preparation
and aptitudes for elementary and early childhood teachers.
3. Ensure that all P-20 mathematics and science teachers have the
knowledge and skills to help all students successfully complete
the college- and career-ready curriculum.
4. Provide STEM internships, co-ops, or lab experiences for all
interested high school and college students to jump-start their
successful transition to the workplace.
5. Increase the number of STEM college graduates by 40% from the
present level of 4,400 graduates by 2015.
6. Boost Maryland’s global competitiveness by supporting research
and entrepreneurship.
7. Create Maryland’s STEM Innovation Network to make STEM resources
available to all.
(download
Plan)
(view Press
Release) |
 Maryland
STEM
Science Technology Engineering
Mathematics
What is Governor O'Malley's
STEM Task Force?
Recognizing both the opportunities and challenges facing Maryland,
Governor O’Malley in September 2008 created a STEM Task Force
and charged it with making recommendations aimed at establishing
Maryland as a global leader in the development of its workforce
of the future and in its STEM-based research and economic development
infrastructure. 
The Task Force was asked to create a
statewide STEM
action plan that would ensure the quality and quantity of
Maryland’s workforce of the future and a globally competitive
research and development infrastructure that would position Maryland
as a leading knowledge-based economy.
Specifically, the Task Force was charged
to develop an action plan to:
- Ensure that rigorous
STEM teaching and learning are accessible to all learners and
at all levels of education;
- Increase the number
of degree holders and program completers trained in STEM fields;
- Include strategies
to synergistically link education, workforce creation, research,
and economic development; and
- Include measurable
goals, benchmarks, and the resources required to implement the
plan.
The co-chairs of the Task Force—William E. Kirwan, Chancellor
of the University System of Maryland, and June
Streckfus, Executive Director of the Maryland Business Roundtable
for Education—defined an overarching goal for the Task Force’s
work: Maryland will be a national leader and globally competitive
in STEM education, pre-K through 20, in STEM workforce development,
and in STEM-based economic growth and job creation.
 What
is the STEM Innovation Network?
To connect the first six recommendations of the STEM Task Force,
the seventh recommendation calls for the creation of Maryland’s
STEM Innovation Network, to make STEM resources available
to all Marylanders.
In 2010, MBRT's Technology Advisory
Board is working to align with the goals of Maryland Governor
O'Malley's STEM
Task Force Report (DOWNLOAD ), and the recommendation for
the creation of Maryland's STEM Innovation Network.
How can organizations get involved ?
For information about participation in Maryland's STEM Innovation
Network,
please contact:
Will Anderson, Chief Technology Officer
will @ mbrt . org
Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (mbrt.org)
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