California faces several challenges in STEM education: 1) There is a shortage of qualified STEM workers and an aging STEM workforce despite demand. 2) California's education system lags behind the nation in STEM performance and funding per student. 3) Ethnic minorities and women are underrepresented in obtaining STEM degrees compared to their population percentages.

1. CSLNet Mission

2. Key Challenges and Barriers
Demand: Shortage of qualified STEM workers and
an aging STEM workforce
Supply: California’s education system trails
the nation in STEM
Fiscal constraints: More than $23B cut from K-12
alone

3. CA Trails the Nation in STEM
Low Achievement
 CA ranks 45th or below in Math and Science Achievement
 CA ranks 50th on Digital Learning Score Card
Fiscal Constraints
 CA ranks 47th in Student Funding Per Pupil
STEM Teaching Workforce
 Declining enrollment and fewer in-service teachers with
STEM majors than other states

4. California’s Leaky STEM Pipeline
9th Graders Fact: Of a half million 9th graders,
only 4% earn a STEM Bachelor’s
Degree
H.S. Graduates
College Ready
Graduates with
STEM Degree
= 21,136
Of 499,905 9th graders Of 355,725 High School Of these college ready Of these students majoring in
enrolled in 2001, only Graduates in 2005, students, only STEM, only 21,136 go on to
355,725 or 70% go on only 165,380 or 53,226 or 21% earn STEM degrees by 2011
to graduate high school 53% are college ready major in STEM
SOURCE: California Department of Education, DataQuest: California Postsecondary Education Commission, Custom Data Reports. California Postsecondary
Education Commission, Custom Data Reports 7

5. Ethnic Minorities Underrepresented
in STEM Degrees

6. Is STEM Education an Issue in
California?
STEM Related Degrees Awarded in California by Ethnicity
and Residential Status, 2009
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
California
Associates
Total Bachelors
Population Masters
Doctorate
Asian, Pacific Islander, Filipino African American Hispanic, Latino
Native American Other, Unknown White
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey. California Postsecondary Education
Commission, Custom Data Reports. California Postsecondary Education Commission, Custom Data Reports

7. The Gender STEM Issue in
California
STEM Related Degrees Awarded in California by
Gender, 2009
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Total CA Pop
Associates
(n=4,921) Bachelors
(n=26,826) Masters
(n=10,344) Doctorate
(n=3,160)
Female Male
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey. California Postsecondary Education
Commission, Custom Data Reports. California Postsecondary Education Commission, Custom Data Reports

8. Relationship Between STEM
Education & California’s Economy
 As California’s economy is becoming more knowledge-
based, STEM employment is increasing at a faster rate
than non-STEM employment
 Between 1999-2007,
o STEM employment increased by 25%
o Non-STEM employment increased by only 16%
SOURCE: The Campaign for College Opportunity. Technical Difficulties: Meeting California’s Workforce Needs in
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Fields Executive Summary. (2009)

9. Academic Expectations
Much smaller percentages of California students were proficient on NAEP
than on California state tests.
70% 66%
Percentage (%) of students
60% 2009 State Assessment
performing at or above
50%
proficient
40% 2009 National
30% 30%
Assessment (NAEP)
30%
23%
20%
10%
0%
4th Grade Math 8th Grade Math
Source, NAEP, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2009.
Paul Peterson, “State Standards Rise in Reading, Fall in Math,” Education Next, fall 2010.

10. How Large are Achievement Gaps
Among Demographic Groups?
2009 NAEP: Percentage of California Students at or
Above Proficient
60%
51%
50%
41%
39% 38%
40%
30% White
Hispanic
20%
14% 13% Black
11% 10%
10% 8% 9% 7% 8%
0%
4th Grade Math 8th Grade Math 4th Grade 8th Grade
Science Science
Source, NAEP, 2009.

11. What % of Students Take Advanced
Placement Tests in Math and Science?
14% 13%
12%
12% Percentage of seniors
10% 10% leaving high school
10%
having taken an AP
8%
8% exam
6% 6%
6% 5%
Percentage of seniors
4% leaving high school
2% scoring 3 or more on
those exams
0%
CA Math U.S. Math CA Science U.S. Science
Source: College Board, AP Report to the Nation, 2011. Data for class 2010.