Federal push for STEM education has not seen big results
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028016
New York Times : In 2009 President Obama announced the Educate to Innovate initiative to promote children’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and math, commonly referred to as STEM fields. However, K–12 education is managed at the state and local levels, so federal influence is at best indirect. In response to Educate to Innovate, several private groups have set up events and outreach projects, but their influence has been marginal. American students showed no significant improvement in the last round of the Programme for International Student Assessment testing in 2012. There is also concern that STEM advocates are focusing too much on students getting doctoral-level degrees rather than two-year technical degrees.
