IYI’s Data Shows More STEM Education Needed to Align with Workforce Growth, Inequity Persist
Data provides revealing insight into projection of STEM in Indiana, how to equip our youth as well as how to combat inequities among access to STEM education and resources.
INDIANAPOLIS (March 9, 2020) — The Indiana Youth Institute (“IYI”), your partner in improving the lives of all Indiana youth, today released “All IN for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,” a data spotlight created in partnership with Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, highlighting the importance of STEM and it’s reach to Hoosier youth.
Nationally, between 2018 and 2028, STEM professions are expected to grow by 8.8% while all non-STEM professions will only grow by 5%. In Indiana — during roughly the same time period of 2016 – 2026, all the top ten occupations projected to grow are in STEM.
“Due to the growing number of job opportunities, it is imperative to make sure each and every Hoosier child engaged, supported and given access to STEM education,” said IYI President and CEO Tami Silverman. “Additionally, a high-quality STEM education provides students with necessary life skills like critical thinking, innovation, problem solving and collaboration that will contribute to future life success. “
Providing a high-quality STEM education requires a coordinated effort to create an educational system able to skill up Hoosiers to unlock the 21st century economy.
While Indiana is making great strides in recognizing and adopting STEM strategies, such as becoming the 3rd state to adopt Code.org, a great deal of this progress is being made in pockets that is not yet available to every Hoosier child. Further development of collective capacity is needed to address the greater systemic need of STEM.
According to the Education Commission of the States, many students reported their science teachers do not have the resources including but not limited to curriculum and lab materials, needed to teach. Many Indiana educators also report a lack of resources in the classroom to teach STEM, especially for students from high poverty and rural areas. Further inequities in access to resources can be seen for students of color and females.
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana collaborated on the study with a clear focus on how to better serve girls who may not have the same level of opportunities for STEM education. Girl Scouts has a long history serving girls in STEM, with over 100 STEM badges and in central Indiana girls earning over 15,000 STEM badges in 2018. However, these successes cannot happen in isolation, today only 28% of STEM jobs are held by women and Girl Scouts of the USA has made a pledge that because of Girl Scouts Leadership Experience there will be 2.5M additional girls in the STEM pipeline by 2025. That is what created the sense of urgency for the Girl Scouts to see just how Indiana STEM opportunities may need to be strengthened.
“The success of tomorrow’s Indiana workforce is dependent on the equity of access to quality, deliberate, and systemic STEM education today and Girl Scouts can help …..,” said Danielle Shockey, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.
IYI’ Data Spotlight: All IN for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math is created in collaboration with Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, and thought partners included I-STEM Resource Network, Indiana STEM Ecosystem, and Tech Point Foundation for Youth. For more information, visit iyi.org
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About the Indiana Youth Institute
For three decades, the Indiana Youth Institute has supported the youth services field through innovative trainings, critical data, and capacity-building resources, aiming every effort at increasing the well-being of all children. To learn more about the Indiana Youth Institute, visit www.iyi.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
About Girl Scouts
We’re 2.5 million strong—1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit girlscoutsindiana.org or call 317-924-6800.