Last month’s article on the 2013 Annual Report from the STEM Education Coalition looked at some of the major milestones achieved by the group in 2013. This month takes a closer look at some of most important policy and advocacy initiatives developed and supported by the Coalition last year.
Working with Congress to promote STEM Education
March saw the Coalition working closely with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley on the STEMCollege and Career Ready Budget Amendment. This included the floor debate on the Senate Budget Resolution. Senator Al Franken joined Merkley and the Coalition in April in creating a letter to other Senators used to promote STEM priorities in the Department of Education budget.
In May, the Coalition led an effort rallying 30 different educational and business groups to support the inclusion of STEM funding in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s immigration bill. The Hatch amendment to the immigration bill boosting STEM funding ended up being successful.
When Republicans in the House brought the Student Success Act ESEA reauthorization bill to the floor in July without including any content related to STEM education, the Coalition urged members not to pass the bill. They also joined with a variety of business and educational leaders to encourage the House to include STEM education funding in their version of the immigration bill.
Helping the Afterschool Alliance
Developing a comprehensive policy agenda to encourage afterschool STEM activity with the Afterschool Alliance was a significant advocacy initiative performed by the Coalition in October. They also were able to recruit a large group of organizations across the country urging Congress to take action in this area.
The Coalition ended the year meeting with White House staff from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Office of Management and Budget to engage in discussions on STEM policy initiatives for 2014.
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