STEM for All

President Obama said in his 2011 State of the Union address that the United States is experiencing a second "Sputnik Moment," implying that the country is challenged to keep up with its international competitors in training scientists and engineers. A recent review of academic performance rated the United States 17th in reading, 23rd in science, and 30th in math. Such poor performance may lead to further decline in its economic standing in the world. As a result, the National Governors Association has made the recommendations regarding Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, known widely as STEM. These recommendations include the creation of STEM Centers, but there are no guidelines to design them. In this article, the authors will share their insights into the proper role of and implementation for STEM within the K-12 sector.