The Future is STEM — But Without Enough Students, the U.S. Will Be Left Behind

In 2022, the National Science Foundation’s Science and Engineering report sounded an alarm. The report showed that the United States is falling behind in science, technology, engineering and math, the STEM fields. According to the foundation, America no longer produces the most science and engineering research publications — that’s China. We no longer produce the most patents — that’s China. Now that we no longer graduate the most natural-science Ph.D.s — that’s also China — these trends are unlikely to change anytime soon.

The problem isn’t that the U.S. lacks the universities to train future scientists or an economy capable of encouraging innovation. Rather, the problem originates much earlier in the supply chain. It starts in our elementary and secondary schools.

In 2019, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Nation’s Report Card, presented evidence that American students are struggling in the sciences. Over a quarter of fourth graders earned a score below basic; by 12th grade, that proportion grows to over 40%. A similar pattern is evident in NAEP math scores. Indeed, recent 2022 NAEP test scores for math show declining scores and increasing percentage of students below basic. While overall patterns are discouraging, the percentage of Black and Hispanic students falling below basic in science and math is even higher.

Please help put parents in charge of their child’s education by forwarding this article to other parents, family, friends and voters.

Other Articles

California Jewish families fight for equal rights in education of disabled children
Three orthodox Jewish families in California who sued the state of California over a law that they say discriminates against religious families with disabled children are appealing a judge’s dismissal of their case.
Read More
Growing Number Of Teachers Denounce Recently Passed Bill Guaranteeing 30 Minutes Of Recess A Day
A growing number of teachers across the state have continued to denounce a bill signed into law earlier this month that guarantees at least 30 minutes of recess a day, with many saying that schools need to be flexible on the amount of recess time given due to multiple factors based on the individual school.
Read More
Educator Warns that "Teachers Pay Teachers" Can Actually Get You Fired
Teachers Pay Teachers is a great source for educators who want to help fellow teachers while earning extra cash. Sadly, it can also get them fired.
Read More
These are the 10 best public high schools in California, US News says. See rankings
The site ranked more than 1,600 high schools in California based on college readiness, curriculum and other factors.
Read More
Computer science classes: California students lag in access
Five years ago, California embarked on an ambitious plan to bring computer science to all K-12 students, bolstering the state economy and opening doors to promising careers — especially for low-income students and students of color.
Read More
Here’s How Much CA Teachers Make Compared To Other States
Research by the National Education Association found California's teachers and professors had the highest average salaries in the U.S.
Read More
Teacher retirement benefits protection bill signed by Gov. Newsom
A bill seeking to protect the monthly benefits of retired public school teachers is set to become law after receiving approval from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Read More
Why every student in California should have access to ‘gifted’ classes
Academic success is as much dependent on how students feel about themselves as the letter grades that fill their transcripts. In fact, the two might be more correlated than they appear.
Read More

Get latest news delivered daily!

We will send you breaking news right to your inbox

© 2025 educationopportunity.org, Privacy Policy | FPPC #1460602