In his recent state of the state address, Governor Pawlenty underscored the need for more educational rigor in science and math, fields which together represent "the currency of our new economy."  On Friday, March 31, Minnesota leaders in government, business, and education will launch a community-wide action plan designed to help Minnesota students succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), preparing them to meet the state's workforce needs for the next 20 years.

As Chair of the Education, Early Childhood and Workforce Committee for the National Governor's Association (NGA), Governor Pawlenty secured funding from his organization for the March 31st event initiated by the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Citizens League, and the Minnesota Department of Education, entitled "Creating Minnesota's Plan for Career Development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math."

The goals of Friday's event include challenging participants to create visibility, urgency, and a call to action on a comprehensive science and math education strategy, launching a dialog among key partners in this effort, and outlining an initial work plan for new solutions to the state's needs for skilled, highly educated workers in STEM fields.

"Too many of our students have been shut out of technology and engineering, and we must do a better job of offering higher level science and math courses in high school that prepare students for college work and STEM careers," Governor Pawlenty said. "We must show students how to apply what they know in math and science to solve engineering problems. Technological literacy is important because it is embedded in everything we touch."

More than a dozen leaders from business, education, and technical professions will join State leadership including Governor Pawlenty for a roundtable discussion at the Science Museum to propose a Minnesota model for meeting the needs of the future technical workforce.

"Achievement in STEM subjects is critical for Minnesota's students, for our workforce, for our economy, and for the overall health of our communities in the coming decades," notes Science Museum president, Eric Jolly. "These are challenging issues, but by bringing together stakeholders from all sectors of our education system and economy-formal and informal education, business, government, and community leadership, we can find solutions to meet the challenge."

Governor Pawlenty will also deliver an address on STEM education in Minnesota and review the conclusions of the morning's roundtable discussion.  Participants will then discuss an action plan for each sector individually and for the group collectively. The action plan will address meeting new goals in STEM achievement and career development for Minnesota for the next 20 years.

Among the questions to be considered by the meetings hosts are the following:

• How can we double the number of STEM graduates by 2015?
• How can we raise Minnesota's rank in college readiness?
• How can we replenish and strengthen teachers of STEM in Minnesota?
• What is the Minnesota model that will make us national leaders in STEM education, and what key investments are needed to fulfill that model?
   

"This event kicks off a state conversation that will not only stress the importance of STEM but will also be issuing a challenge to the broader community to become a partner in this most critical effort," Commissioner Alice Seagren said. "Once Minnesota's students are taking on the challenge of more rigorous STEM courses, we all will benefit. The business and technology fields will have higher quality candidate pools while our state and nation will be better equipped for global competition. This roundtable is one of the many steps Minnesota is taking to stress the importance of STEM."

Additional support from the National Governors Association in the form of a $25,000 grant will contribute towards underwriting the costs of the March 31st planning session and follow-up report.  

"STEM education needs to be targeted and effective throughout Minnesota for our students at every grade level," Governor Pawlenty said.  "Our goal is to emerge from this day of meetings and planning sessions with an historic plan to improve the way Minnesota's students learn and succeed in STEM subjects and progress in an innovative, technology driven economy."