Coalition Response to President’s State of the Union Address

January 29, 2014

Washington, DC-  The STEM Education Coalition issued the following response to President Obama’s 2014 State of the Union Address:

“In his State of the Union address, the President again spoke forcefully about the importance of improving STEM education at every level, so that American workers can compete successfully for the best jobs of the global economy. 

 Many of the President’s signature education initiatives over the past five years, like Race to the Top and I3, have promoted improvements in the STEM subjects.  However, there are many other areas where the Administration needs to redouble its efforts to work with those in Congress to reauthorize ESEA and the Higher Education Act and enact other major legislative reforms in education and workforce policy that will elevate STEM education as an enduring and urgent national priority.    

 As an example, the Administration’s proposed reorganization of federal STEM education programs was roundly rejected by Congress and many in the STEM education community and the Omnibus budget bill directed the Administration to reformulate its plans and seek substantial stakeholder input.  On this front, the President needs to work with both parties in Congress and the STEM education community to achieve real changes that will help generations of students become America’s future innovators.  We are ready to help him do that.” 

About the STEM Education Coalition

The STEM Education Coalition is an alliance of more than 500 education, business, and professional organizations from across the country that are united in the goal of promoting policies to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at every level.  Our Coalition closely follows the development and evolution of policies across the federal government that seek to address the challenges our nation faces in educating the future STEM workforce.  The Coalition is based in Washington, DC. 

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