NGA and Innovate+Educate launch partnership to promote STEM education

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices today announced a new public-private partnership to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in the states. The alliance with Innovate+Educate seeks to bring together policymakers and business leaders to ensure widespread adoption of STEM best practices.

At summit held in Sturbridge, Massachusetts today, NGA Center director John Thomasian said developing a 21st century workforce is paramount for states looking to stay competitive in a global marketplace.

“Establishing and growing STEM education programs is important for states as they strive to increase their economic competitiveness,” he said in a statement. “One of the best ways to establish programs in states is to learn from the work of other states.”

In order to help spread best practices and keep abreast of what the countries leading companies need, in terms of workforce, the NGA Center and Innovate+Educate, an alliance of corporations committed to STEM education, said they would work to bring state officials and business leaders together.

“With STEM at the core of a modern economy, aligning industry partnerships in a sustainable, scalable model is of utmost importance,” said Jami Grindatto, Southwest Corporate Affairs Director at Intel Corporation, and Chairman of the Board at Innovate+Educate.

In one of its first actions to support states directly, Innovate+Educate allocated $50,000 in planning grant dollars to support the implementation of the Massachusetts Governor’s STEM Council recommendations as a part of the state’s comprehensive STEM policy reform.