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California Accepted Into National Project

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced California has been accepted as one of five states to participate in the prestigious National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Equity Pipeline Project that is designed to attract more women into the fields of math and science. For the list of participants, please see the attachment.

"We need to attract more people overall into math and science careers, but the need is even more critical for female students," said O'Connell. "Even though young girls outnumber boys enrolled in K-12 math and science courses, social forces tend to sway them away from these studies as they enter college. This may deprive women of leadership opportunities that could lead to a lifetime of higher wages, expectations, and accomplishments. As a society we can no longer rely solely on the best minds of just half of our population if California is to maintain its leadership as a global economy and a land of technological innovation. I am pleased that California will be able to participate in the STEM Equity Pipeline Project so we can encourage more women to fulfill their career dreams in the fields of math, technology, and science."

The National Science Foundation gave a grant to the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Education Foundation that developed the STEM Equity Pipeline Project. The goal is to increase enrollment of girls in math and science related academic courses that lead to a high school degree and college, and to increase participation in STEM career and technical education career cluster programs.

The project is headed by Mimi Lufkin, CEO of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Education Foundation. "We are excited about the potential this project holds to increase the capacity of educators throughout California to encourage women and girls to pursue a career in a STEM field. The train-the-trainer model we will be using with the state teams will build professional development expertise for improving STEM cluster programs of study," said Lufkin.

The criteria for selecting states to participate in the first year included: states that have adequate data collection and management systems in place to implement the process improvement model; geographic distribution nationally; commitment to equity in STEM education as proven by prior performance and activities; and the diversity of systems and administrative structures.

In the first year of the project, five states will participate in the extension services. Two additional states would be added in year two. Three states in year three. Also, another three states would be added in year four for a total of 13 states. State teams consisting of secondary and postsecondary education will collaborate to increase its ability to act as a vehicle for female students to enter careers in STEM.  For more information about the STEM Pipeline Project, please visit National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity [http://www.napequity.org/] (Outside Source).

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Attachment

First Year Implementation States

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Editor's Note: To contact the grantor, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, please call Executive Director Mimi Lufkin at 610-593-8038 or cell 610-761-9000.