Will Delaware seize the future?

Delaware could have a bright future in STEM

Delaware will enjoy robust STEM growth As in much of the country, STEM jobs in Delaware will enjoy robust growth. Computing, advanced manufacturing, and engineering will share in this growth. Given the importance of technology as a driver of innovation and economic growth, DE may want to do more to promote a stronger computing and manufacturing workforce, along with other measures to strengthen the industry in the state.

DE leads in STEM wage earnings STEM employees in Delaware can earn more than double that of their non-STEM counterparts. DE ranks is the top ten for median hourly earnings for STEM positions. In other words, the advantage of having a STEM job is higher than in most other states—a sign of strong demand. DE rank: 10th in STEM median hourly earnings

Will Delaware have the STEM talent to meet the demand?

DE loses STEM talent at every education level Delaware outperforms the nation as a whole on its high school and four-year college graduation rates. Even so, the state loses STEM talent at every level of the education system. Its two-year college graduation rate is particularly weak. DE rank: 1st! (4-yr degree graduation rate)

Minorities trail in computing degrees and certificates More than 1/3 of population… …but just 13% of degrees Underrepresented minorities: Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska native. Though minorities comprise more than one third of the college-aged population, they earn only 13 percent of all computing degrees and certificates.

Minorities very scarce in engineering More than a third of population… In absolute terms, racial and ethnic minorities are badly underrepresented among those who get degrees and certificates from Delaware engineering programs. While they comprise more than 35 percent of the college-aged population, they earn only eight percent of degrees and certificates. …but only 8% of degrees

Women sparse in computing, but their numbers are rising Nearly 2.5x more for men Delaware has a large gap between the number of men earning computing degrees and certificates and the number of women earning them—though the number of women earning these credentials has risen sharply in recent years.. That said, men have earned more than double the number of computing degrees compared to women between 2001 and 2015: 2,886 versus 1.063, respectively. While women have nearly doubled the number of degrees earned from 2014, men still earned almost 2.5 times more in 2015. Only 27% for women

Women sparse in engineering More than 3.5X higher for men Less than 24% for women Though women have made gains since 2001 in the number of women earning engineering degrees and certificates, men have earned 3.5 times as many; 4,222 versus 1,269, respectively. In 2015, women earned fewer than 24% of DE engineering degrees and certificates.

The challenge begins early: Students lag in K-12

DE 4th-graders have made no progress since 2007 Each racial/ethnic group made progress in the early years of the millennium, but each has given up most of those tains.

DE 8th graders lag in math performance While all groups of DE 8th graders fall below the proficiency mark in math, Black and Hispanic students score lower in 8th grade math performance than their peers. Delaware students have fallen back since 2009.

DE 8th graders lag in science performance Delaware students have made few or no gains since 2009. Black, Hispanic, lower-income and urban students trail their counterparts in 8th grade science performance.

Persistent achievement gaps in math and science While too many DE students of any race fall below the proficient threshold, Hispanic and Black students lag farthest behind. DE rank: Hispanic-white gap 8th grade science (tied for 40th)

Persistent achievement gaps in math and science Lower-income students trail their higher-income counterparts.

Delaware can give students better opportunities to learn

DE 4th-graders spend little time on science Well more than half of the state’s fourth-graders received less than three hours of science instruction per week in 2015

DE lags in teacher preparation Delaware has the lowest percentage of 8th graders whose math teachers hold degrees in math in the nation. While all DE 8th graders need math teachers with science degrees, lower-income, racial/cultural minority, and urban students rank at the bottom with as few as 5% having math teachers with math degrees! DE ranks dead last in the nation!

DE lags in teacher preparation Though Delaware resembles the nation as a whole in the overall percentage of 8th graders whose science teachers hold degrees in science, students who attend schools with more than 50% Black/Hispanic students rank near the bottom nationally. DE rank: Schools with >50% Black/Hispanic students (tied for 47th)

Minority schools need more access to science equipment Delaware 8th-graders whose schools report that supplies or equipment for science labs are available “to a large extent,” by race/ethnicity, 2015 Though many DE students have access to 8th grade science labs, students at schools where the majority of students are Black and Latino are less likely to have access to materials and equipment for those labs.

Advanced classes could develop minority talent The good news is DE has minority students with the potential to succeed on AP placement tests. The challenge is 53 percent did not take them. The first step is to help these students take the tests. Untapped pool of STEM talent

Evidence points to DE’s bright future in STEM Delaware should expand access to: Proven STEM education opportunities for women and students of color More opportunities for minority and lower-income students Teachers with strong STEM backgrounds and robust instructional support More STEM materials and facilities for K-12 students Greater accessibility to challenging math and science classes

Contact Information Claus von Zastrow cvonzastrow@changetheequation.org 202.626.5740 www.changetheequation.org Facebook.com/changetheequation Twitter.com/changeequation