Mass STEM Plan a Model for Others

Last week, the National Governor’s Association convened the “Massachusetts Learning Lab for Developing a State STEM Plan” in Boston. STEM “Teams” from nine states attended to share experiences and learn from Massachusetts to develop strategies for developing and implementing STEM agendas in their states.

Attendees were welcomed by Lt. Governor Tim Murray and state Secretary of Education Paul Reville, both of whom highlighted the Tapping Massachusetts’ Potential report as providing a framework for the state’s STEM agenda. A variety of panels discussed topics such as: the process Massachusetts employed in developing and implementing its statewide STEM Plan; integrating STEM into other areas of education policy; national efforts to align industry support to advance state STEM goals; and how public-private partnerships can support state STEM goals and strengthen STEM education.

The state teams completed the day by taking the information they heard during the event and developing a framework for Action Plans for advancing STEM agendas in their states. The teams included representatives from business, government and education from each state. State’s represented included Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.

In coordination with that event,  Gary DiCamillo has an op-ed, Talent is our Competitive Advantage, on the Mass High Tech News website, highlighting the progress being made here in Massachusetts.   Gary DiCamillo is managing partner at Eaglepoint Advisors LLC and serves as chair of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable’s Task Force on Education and Workforce Development.  He is also a member of MBAE’s Advisory Council.

While we in Massachusetts are always conscious of the work left to be done to fill the workforce pipeline for our STEM industries, opportunities such as this one also remind us that we indeed have a competitive advantage in many ways.

MBAE is a member of the STEM Business Leaders Coalition and thanks the Massachusetts Business Roundtable for its leadership on this issue.