**ICW released a 2010 report on afterschool and extended learning programs. **GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer program in North Carolina and Philadelphia is an excellent example of how business can take initiative in this area.
**Advocate for and support smart investments in K-16 mathematics and science achievement for a vital state, city, or regional economy and map assets in science and math. --Change The Equation is a new organization working towards these goals, particularly by taking a “snapshot” of current STEM private sector investments. Find out how you can help at www.changetheequation.org
--This effort is already underway through the Common Core States Standards Initiative, a voluntary national movement sponsored by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. www.corestandards.org --Most states have adopted Common Core, but achieving full implementation will be a long struggle – business community must apply consistent pressure. **The business community can also ask Congress to provide incentives for states to implement Common Core when it reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). **Science standards need to be made a priority in ESEA. --$330 million was awarded under the Race to the Top program to develop common assessments to 2 consortia of states. A total of 45 states are involved in one or both of the consortia.
--IBM’s Transition to Teaching program offers their employees the support they need to pursue a second career in the classroom. **States must open up alternative certification pathways to allow qualified professionals to enter teaching. Additionally, schools of education must look to provide training programs for adult professionals to become teachers. --Business can help by building out systems that enable teachers to use and contribute to a common knowledge base of curricular materials and pedagogical techniques ** www.curriki.org is one such free source, however, these submissions are not research based, nor are they vetted for efficacy. **The Department of Education’s “ What Works Clearinghouse ” is another great source for teachers that doesn’t suffer from the problems of Curriki but doesn’t provide quite as usable information – most of the stuff on that webpage are reports. --Business can develop professional development programs that engage teachers in collaborating with industry professionals and provide learning opportunities that enable teachers to experience real-world science and math and apply to instructional improvements . *Houston’s A-Plus teacher externship program and Northrup Grumman’s “ Weightless Flights of Discovery ” are two excellent examples.
--Programs like Teach for America and The New Teacher Project do an excellent job in getting good teachers into high-poverty areas. **Exploring the creation of a program like those specifically for STEM education may be a necessary and worthwhile initiative --Tying student performance to teacher evaluation can help ensure that every student receives a high quality teacher.
![Higher levels of mathematics and science learning for all American students ,[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)