The Innovation Imperative The Importance of STEM Education

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The Innovation Imperative The Importance of
STEM Education
The Honorable Aneesh P. Chopra Secretary of
Technology March, 2008
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The Innovation Imperative
Thriving Technology Sector a Key Pillar of
Virginias Competitiveness
Virginia Atop the Nations States
Technology Drives Virginia Economy

• In 2007 American Electronics Association noted
  Virginia has the highest concentration of tech
  workers in the nation
• Sixth lowest unemployment rate in the nation
  (3.1 as of July 2007)
• Kaine Administration 43,075 new jobs and 5.8
  Billion in new investment
• In 2006, Forbes.com named Virginia the best state
  for business

• 32 of all new jobs statewide created in the
  technology sector (year ending June 2007)
• Wages in the technology sector represent 29 of
  all Virginia salaries (year ending June 2007)

Employment Growth 2Q06 vs. 2Q07
2.1
1.0
All Industries
Technology Sector
Source Virginia Economic Trends 2Q2007, Chmura
and Virginia Employment commission AeA
Cyberstates 2007 Report
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Three Levers
Working to Ensure all Virginians Benefit in the
21st Century Economy
I State RD Investments
II An Innovation Infrastructure
III Filling Tomorrows High-End Workforce
STEM Education Strengthen Virginias K-12
system by growing tomorrows science and
engineering leaders
Universal Broadband Develop public-private
partnerships to ensure access to low-cost
high-speed services
Investing in Guided Innovation Support 1.2
billion RD goal through state funding,
incentives to promote corporate research
SoTech Agenda
Workforce Reform
VRTAC Reform
CIT Agenda
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Educational Attainment, Test Scores Affect Our
Ability to Compete
Concern 3 Too Many Virginians Left Behind
Educational Attainment Virginia
Test Scores and Economic Growth OECD Countries
A highly skilled workforce can raise economic
growth by about .67 a year (20 GDP increase)
if America led the world in math and science
achievement - Hanushek
Source Council on Virginias Future Education
and Economic Growth, Education Next, Hanushek,
Spring 2008
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Sometimes Instrument Maker
Source Jim Batterson, NASA
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Filling Tomorrows High End Workforce
Dual Strategy to Improve Our Finest, Extend
Opportunity to All
AP Enrollment (At Least One Course) Virginia
Public High School Students
Computer Engineering or IT as Planned Major
Virginia High School Seniors
Number of students scoring 3 or better increased
12.3
VAs 6 CTE Academies will serve 2,800 students in
first year
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2005
2002
2006
2006
From Competence to Excellence
Our education goal should be to promote true
excellence by moving beyond our focus on
competence, as measured by scores on standardized
tests of minimum expectation. Governor Tim Kaine