The Challenge: America Is Losing Its Innovative Edge

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Maintaining America's economic and innovative edge depends on a commitment to high-quality education by all stakeholders, including the business community. Improving the math and science skills of our nation's youth is an essential step to ensure and promote innovation-led economic growth and the availability of high-quality, well-paying careers in the U.S.

The ability to analyze, interpret and use data creatively to get a point across succinctly and accurately is essential to all students' future success. Being skilled in math and science is no longer just a requirement for mathematicians and scientists; many jobs - even those that formerly required only a high school education - now require some advanced training and strong skills in math and science. And the "innovation jobs" that fuel our economic growth are rooted in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and also require significant expertise in math and science.

Students Aren't Getting the Skills They Need

Unfortunately, there is a real gap between the skill demands of the new economy and the skills American high school and college students now have. Although there has been an increase in math and science course taking in high school, the majority of students are not enrolling in rigorous course tracks.

In too many high schools across America, students are not challenged or expected to master essential skills in mathematics and science. Only twenty states expect students to take the fundamental math courses in high school that will open doors to more training, technical degrees and well-paying jobs. Similarly, between 1986 and 2006, the number of bachelor's degrees awarded for engineering and engineering technologies has decreased by 16 percent.

Yet Good Jobs and Global Competition Are Increasing

U.S. science and engineering jobs are predicted to grow by 18 percent between 2006 and 2016. This is almost twice the growth rate of all occupations over the same time period.

If this isn't disconcerting enough, international competition is increasingly fierce. High school students in competing countries, namely China and India, consistently outperform their U.S. counterparts on international tests in math and science content and literacy. Students from these countries also are pursuing degrees and careers in technical fields at breakneck speeds.

If we fail to reverse current trends, many businesses will find themselves facing major labor shortages in years to come, forcing them to look elsewhere for skilled labor. It is imperative that we grow our skilled labor force to keep the U.S. workforce innovative and competitive.