The purpose of STEM Education and Leadership is to support K-12 educators and leaders with integrated approaches to STEM teaching and learning. It connects educational stakeholders including local education agencies (LEAs), post-secondary education, policy-makers, business/industry, and other state agencies to current STEM initiatives. STEM Education and Leadership works to ensure our students are prepared to be globally engaged and productive citizens. 

STEM Overview

Educational excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and the understanding of related resources are essential components to building a workforce capable of competing within today's global economy. STEM education is not new to North Carolina. Dating back to the establishment of the Research Triangle Park in the 1950s, North Carolina has viewed STEM education as critical to the success of our economic development.

STEM Education is an economic imperative to:

• Transform education 
• Build a world-class workforce
• Align with emerging industries
• Ensure NC economic prosperity

Leaders in education, the Governor’s Education Cabinet, the Lieutenant Governor’s office, Joining our Businesses and Schools (JOBS) Commission, business and industry, private sector and the seven economic development regions convened through extensive conversations which led to the development of a North Carolina STEM Strategic Plan. The plan aligns all education institutions with a set of goals and measures to expand education initiatives focusing on three priorities. 

Priority One:  Increasing student, educator, and institutional STEM achievement.

Priority Two:  Growing and sustaining broader community understanding and support for education innovations that support the state's economic needs.

Priority Three:  Connecting, leveraging, and increasing STEM resources across public and private sectors to improve North Carolinians' economic future.

STEM Resources

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