By Matt Weyer

Roughly 3 million more STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) job openings existed in 2016 than there were qualified employees to fill these jobs, nearly tripling the total from 2010.

To systematically approach this deficit, several states have focused on high school graduation endorsements as a promising area.

While seals of biliteracy have become popular nationwide for endorsing high school graduates with academic and communicative proficiencies in a second language, seals or endorsements of STEM education have only been introduced in a handful of states.

Currently, a bill originally designed by two Colorado educators has made its way to the governor’s desk.

The bill would grant a high school diploma endorsement to students who demonstrate mastery in STEM education. The bill further requires a 3.5 grade point average at graduation, completion of 12 credit hours in STEM courses, a minimum score on one of several specified mathematics assessments and successful completion of a capstone project.

The two educators responsible for the bill’s initial development spent countless hours researching and working with state legislators to get the bill introduced.

The bill also encourages students and their parents to start thinking about the process early, requiring local school districts to notify these groups of the requirements beginning in sixth grade.

For more information on STEM education, check out NCSL’s Early STEM webpage.

NCSL will also be hosting an informative session on enrolling more females and underrepresented youth in STEM education at Legislative Summit 2017.

Matt Weyer is a senior policy specialist in NCSL’s Education Program.

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