The United States has a longstanding trend of underinvesting in education R&D and the development of a STEM workforce that can effectively be deployed to solve today’s challenges. This threatens America’s national security and competitiveness, and hampers our ability to lead across myriad economic sectors.
FAS envisions a future where all learners and workers can access pathways to the STEM workforce and are prepared to rise to the challenges of the future, allowing the United States to lead across myriad economic sectors and bolster its national security. We advocate for innovative and evidence-based approaches to education and workforce pathways to help realize that future.
By investing in the mechanisms that connect learning ecosystems, policymakers can build “neighborhoods” of learning that prepare students for citizenship, work, and life.
Early-career and out-of-state teachers tend to be most heavily concentrated in Alaska’s rural schools, where they face a steep curve in adjusting to a new way of life while learning the ropes of teaching.
The next administration should establish a national, federally-funded initiative to develop a robust and diverse pipeline of STEM talent.
The potential of new nuclear power plants to meet energy demand, increase energy security, and revitalize local economies depends on new regulatory and operational approaches at the NRC.
