What is STEM education?

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education is an integrated, interdisciplinary, and student-centered approach to learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, artistic expression, collaboration, computational thinking, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and design thinking.

Why is STEM education important?

Businesses are growing in Pennsylvania, and they want skilled and well-educated workers who are prepared for the 21st century economy. Students need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to enter the workforce and be successful in a tech-driven, global economy.

• There will be 590,000 new and replacement jobs in Pennsylvania through 2026, with STEM jobs growing at over 9 percent.
• Over the next ten years, 71 percent of new jobs will require computer science skills.
• On average Pennsylvania has 13,000 open computing jobs every month. The average salary for computing jobs is $101,047. (PDF) Learn more about Computer Science education opportunities in Pennsylvania.
• Research shows STEM instruction and majors offer benefits in a student's postsecondary career, even if that student does not necessarily pursue a STEM career.

STEM in Pennsylvania

STEM education in Pennsylvania is built on the following foundational beliefs:

• All students are capable of STEM literacy;
• Iteration and reflection are an important part of the STEM learning process;
• STEM education transcends the classroom walls, integrating into the community; and
• Success depends upon the partnership between educators, students, families, postsecondary providers, legislators, business, and industry.​​
  

STEM Ec​​osystems in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has nine nationally-recognized STEM ecosystems that engage learners of all ages. The​se ecosystems connect communities, provide the architecture for cross-sector teaching and learning, and help create STEM learning opportunities and experiences.​