Test data underscores need for more students to explore science, technology
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 18, 2006
Contact: Randy Wanke, (651) 582-1145
EPAS DATA UNDERSCORES NEED FOR MORE MINNESOTA STUDENTS TO EXPLORE
CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
~Only 11 percent of eighth-graders, 21 percent of tenth-graders express interest in going into math, science, technology fields ~
St. Paul – Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren today released results from the ACT Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS), which highlight the need to encourage more Minnesota students to explore careers in science and high-tech fields.
The interest inventory portion of the EPAS released by the Department of Education showed that only 10.8 percent of eighth-graders and 20.9 percent of tenth-graders express interest in pursuing a future in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
“Minnesota’s future job growth will be in the scientific and technical occupations, so it’s essential that we encourage more students to consider pursuing careers in those fields,” Commissioner Seagren said. “The EPAS results underscore the need to continue our efforts to encourage and prepare more Minnesota students to participate in the STEM fields.”
Minnesota’s Get Ready, Get Credit program provides resources for students to take college readiness and interest assessments through ACT's EPAS in both eighth and tenth grades.
As part of the EPAS, 37,411 eighth-graders and 53,657 tenth-graders participated in an interest inventory to gauge what career fields they might be interested in pursuing.
Only 4,041 (10.8 percent) of eighth-graders expressed an interest in going into the math, science or technology fields. By comparison, 18,442 (49.3 percent) expressed interest in the social service fields.
Only 11,239 (about 20.9 percent) of tenth-graders expressed an interest in going into the math, science or technology fields. By comparison, more than 27,489 (51.2 percent), expressed interest in the social service and artistic fields.
The need for more workers in STEM fields is highlighted in Department of Employment and Economic Development economic forecasts, which project a 20-33% increase in scientific and technical occupations in Minnesota in ten years.
Additionally, new job growth in professional and high-tech industries will demand an extra 10,500 college graduates per year.
“It’s imperative for the state’s future success that we better prepare Minnesota students to compete in the global marketplace,” Governor Tim Pawlenty said. “That is why I have made it one of the top priorities of my Administration to encourage more Minnesota students to take science, technology, engineering and math classes.”
Under Governor Pawlenty’s leadership, the Minnesota Department of Education has launched several initiatives to encourage more students to consider pursuing careers in the STEM fields.
This fall, the Minnesota Department of Education will launch a comprehensive statewide communications effort to encourage more students to take STEM courses. Those efforts will include a summit for high school students, which will highlight STEM career opportunities available in Minnesota.
Additionally, a proposal offered by Governor Pawlenty, and approved by the legislature this year, will require that students take Algebra I by eighth grade and Algebra II and Chemistry or Physics in order to graduate from high school. The new requirement goes into effect with this year's third-graders.
The EPAS system also provided estimated ACT composite scores for Minnesota tenth-graders. The range of predicted scores for tenth-graders on the ACT is 18.7 to 22.7, which encompasses our current average score of 22.3 and assumes students will take the appropriate course work. When examining these scores it is important to keep in mind that Minnesota’s actual ACT scores will be higher than the estimates because, while nearly all Minnesota tenth-graders took part in the ACT PLAN assessments, only about 60 percent of Minnesota juniors and seniors take the ACT.
The EPAS results also highlight the need to close the achievement gap. The estimated range of ACT composite scores for African American tenth-graders is 14.7 to 18.4, compared to 19.4 to 23.4 for white tenth-graders.
“One of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s top priorities is to close the achievement gap,” Commissioner Seagren said. “Under his leadership, we are working to raise achievement for every Minnesota student.”
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