1. Can Arizona seize the future? Enlist 2.0
October 7, 2015

2. Preparation for STEM jobs
Opportunity lost?
Afterschool opportunities in STEM
Science teaching resources
Math teaching resources
STEM employment advantage
STEM wage premium
AP math success
AP science success
Access to science lab materials
Time for science in grade school
Diversity of computer grads
STEM degrees/certificates
Access to science teachers
Access to math teachers
STEM job growth
Preparation for STEM jobs
Computer job growth
STEM job growth
Arizona’s economy could have a bright future, yet the lack of STEM education opportunities in the state puts that future at risk. Arizona nearly tops the nation in STEM growth, but it ranks near the bottom in giving its young people opportunities to prepare for a prosperous future in STEM. Latino students, who make up almost half of K-12 enrollment, have the fewest opportunities. You can’t sustain growth if you don’t build the talent of your workforce.
Arizona State Rank

3. Arizona could have a bright future in STEM

4. Arizona leads in STEM growth
Between 2014 and 2024:
Arizona
U.S.
Arizona is the only state in the top five that isn’t starting from a low concentration of STEM jobs
It ranks second in the projected growth of computing jobs…
Utah
North Dakota
Colorado
Arizona
Texas
It’s worth noting that, of those top 5 states, Arizona is growing from the largest base. In other words, Arizona already has the largest concentration of STEM jobs in its workforce out of those 5 states, edging out even Texas.
Arizona rank: 4

5. AZ leads in STEM wage premium
In other words, the advantage of having a STEM job is higher than in most other states—a sign of strong demand.
Arizona rank: 9

6. AZ leads in STEM employment advantage
“STEM employment advantage” means the difference in unemployment rates between STEM and non-STEM jobs.
It pays to work in STEM in Arizona—and that demonstrates the growing demand for talent.
Arizona rank: 5

7. Yet Arizona might not have the people to realize this future

8. AZ lags in STEM credentials
Arizona also has lower high school and college graduation rates than most other states as well, which makes these results even more concerning.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education
Arizona rank: 43

9. AZ lags in STEM diversity
Population…
46% of
Underrepresented minorities in computing
…but only
23% of degrees
Arizona
Underrepresented minorities: Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska native.
Note that they make up almost half of the college-age population. Latinos alone now make up 45% of the K-12 population. As subsequent slides will show, they are least likely to have STEM opportunities, even though they are the most rapidly growing segment of the population.
You can’t stay at the cutting edge of technology and growth if you don’t cultivate the largest and fastest-growing segment of your population!
Arizona rank: 41

10. AZ lags in STEM diversity
Population…
46% of
Underrepresented minorities in engineering
…but only
14% of degrees
Arizona
Underrepresented minorities: Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska native.
Note that they make up almost half of the college-age population. Latinos alone now make up 45% of the K-12 population. As subsequent slides will show, they are least likely to have STEM opportunities, even though they are the most rapidly growing segment of the population.
You can’t stay at the cutting edge of technology and growth if you don’t cultivate the largest and fastest-growing segment of your population!
Arizona rank: 22

11. Students lack opportunities and exposure in K-12

12. AZ lags in time for science
Only 2 hours per week!
Arizona rank: 41

13. AZ lags in teacher preparation
8th graders whose math teachers have an undergraduate
major in math, by race/ethnicity, 2015
National Assessment for Educational Progress question reads: “Did you have a major, minor, or special emphasis in any of the following subjects as part of your undergraduate coursework? Mathematics (teacher-reported) Possible answers: Major, Minor or special emphasis, No. Our data show a special analysis that combines math majors and math-related majors (such as statistics).
Arizona rank: 47

14. AZ lags in teacher preparation
8th graders whose math teachers have an undergraduate
major in math, by race/ethnicity, 2013
8th graders whose science teachers have an undergraduate
major in science, by race/ethnicity, 2011
Only 11% have a teacher
who majored in math!
National Assessment of Educational Progress: we asked the American Institutes for Research to use their special license to arrive at these data data are the most recent available.
Arizona rank: 44
Arizona rank: 50

15. AZ lags in teaching resources
8th graders whose math teachers say they have all or
most of the resources they need, by race/ethnicity, 2015
8th graders whose science teachers say they have all or
Most of the resources they need, by race/ethnicity, 2011
National Assessment for Educational Progress question reads: “Which of the following statements best describes how well your school system provides you with the materials and other resources you need for mathematics instruction? (teacher-reported) None, Some, Most, All
Arizona rank: 47

16. AZ lags in teaching resources
8th graders whose science teachers say they have all or
most of the resources they need, by race/ethnicity, 2011
National Assessment for Educational Progress question reads: “Which of the following statements is true about how well your school system provides you with the instructional materials and other resources you need to teach your class? (teacher-reported) Possible answers: Have all of the resources needed, Have most of the resources needed, Have some of the resources needed, Have none of the resources needed
Arizona rank: 46

17. AZ lags in science supplies
8th graders whose schools report that supplies or
equipment for science labs are available “to a large
extent,” by race/ethnicity, 2011
An area where it breaks the top 40—but not quite, because it shares this ranking with another state. Again, the results for students of color are especially dismal.
Arizona rank: 39th

18. AZ lags in afterschool STEM
Arizona
U.S.
SOURCE: Afterschool Alliance, America After 3pm, 2015
More than 60 programs currently in STEMworks;
Portal regularly opened for new submissions
Work with IA, CO and AZ
Arizona rank: 46

19. Mentoring can be one critical means of filling the gap

20. Firewall with WestEd; not quite a third of applicants admitted.
Time and Treasure
STEMworks
We do not share the names of programs that applied and were not admitted.
Each program—whether or not it’s admitted—gets a thorough review of its programs strengths and areas for growth. We hope this process can help frame the conversation between programs and funders around strong principles for quality.
Firewall with WestEd; not quite a third of applicants admitted.

21. STEM Design Principles
Need
Inquiry & Hands-on Learning
Underrepresented Groups
Evaluation
Capacity
Inspiration
Replicable
Sustainability
Partnerships
Content

22. Firewall with WestEd; not quite a third of applicants admitted.
Time and Treasure
STEMworks
We do not share the names of programs that applied and were not admitted.
Each program—whether or not it’s admitted—gets a thorough review of its programs strengths and areas for growth. We hope this process can help frame the conversation between programs and funders around strong principles for quality.
Firewall with WestEd; not quite a third of applicants admitted.

23. Firewall with WestEd; not quite a third of applicants admitted.
Time and Treasure
STEMworks
We do not share the names of programs that applied and were not admitted.
Each program—whether or not it’s admitted—gets a thorough review of its programs strengths and areas for growth. We hope this process can help frame the conversation between programs and funders around strong principles for quality.
Firewall with WestEd; not quite a third of applicants admitted.

24. Contact Information
Claus von Zastrow Facebook.com/changetheequation Twitter.com/changeequation