STEM Ecosystems Initiative 10 Year Anniversary: A Decade of Change, A Lifetime of Impact
As we step into 2025, the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP) marks a momentous milestone – our 10th anniversary. This “Decade of Change” has truly created a “Lifetime of Impact,” transforming STEM education and workforce development across the nation and beyond.
For ten years, STEM Ecosystems have been powerful engines of change, connecting diverse partners and resources to create rich learning environments that extend far beyond classroom walls. Our journey has shown that when we unite schools, businesses, community organizations, and STEM institutions, we don’t just change educational outcomes—we transform lives and communities for generations to come.
As we embark on our celebration of this landmark year, we’re thrilled to see our work aligning closely with the newly released “Federal Strategic Plan for Advancing STEM Education and Cultivating STEM Talent.” This plan not only recognizes STEM ecosystems as a key strategy for advancing STEM education nationwide but also mirrors our own strategic vision in several key areas.
STEM Ecosystems Strategic Vision
Over the past decade, the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP) has transformed STEM education through a grassroots approach that connects schools, businesses, community organizations, and policymakers. This work, guided by the 5 Pillars of Thriving Ecosystems, has evolved into a scalable framework that has impacted over 42 million learners across 120 STEM Ecosystems worldwide. Building on this foundation, SLECoP has developed Strategic Positioning Statements that articulate the core principles driving thriving ecosystems and their role in advancing STEM education globally:
- Partnerships | Catalyzing Cross-Sector Synergies
- Systems | Architecting Inclusive STEM Ecosystems
- Teaching & Learning | Reimagining STEM Learning Landscapes
- Data Management | Pioneering Data-Driven STEM Advancement
- Workforce | Cultivating Future-Ready STEM Talent
These foundational pillars are more than guiding principles—they reflect a decade of research, practice, and innovation. They were developed from the grassroots efforts of ecosystems working to break down silos in education and workforce development while addressing opportunity gaps. Their success lies in their scalability across diverse communities and their adaptability to local needs.
Let’s explore how our five strategic pillars intersect with the federal plan:
Partnerships | Catalyzing Cross-Sector Synergies
Our vision: Igniting vibrant, cross-sector collaborations that harness the power of STEM learning to drive economic mobility, fuel innovation, and strengthen communities.
Intersections in the Federal Plan: The federal plan emphasizes that cross-sector partnerships at home and abroad are essential to developing STEM talent. It states, “The federal government alone cannot produce the STEM talent needed for the entire country. Multi-agency and multi-sector partnerships and ecosystem development… are necessary to achieve a vision for STEM in America” (p. 1).
- STEM Ecosystems as Essential Infrastructure:
“STEM education ecosystems consist of multi-sector partners united by a collective vision of supporting participation in STEM through the creation of accessible, inclusive STEM learning opportunities spanning all education stages and career pathways” (p. 3). - Cross-Sector Partnerships:
“Strategic partnerships can help ensure that what is taught and learned is relevant to the needs and realities of the communities that students come from, work in, or want to learn more from. Partnerships can also connect STEM activities to the needs and realities of communities, nonprofit organizations, the private sector, and academia, all of which use STEM information on a daily basis” (p. 13). - Collaborative Engagement:
“Co-created, bi-directional partnerships that center on the needs and perspectives of all invested parties are needed among educational institutions, academic and community scientists, nonprofit organizations, out-of-school programs, government, diaspora communities, international entities, philanthropies, learners of all ages, families and caregivers, and industry.” (p. 14).
Systems | Architecting Inclusive STEM Ecosystems
Our vision: Designing scalable and adaptable frameworks that empower diverse members to contribute their unique strengths, ensuring access and opportunities in STEM for all.
Intersections in the Federal Plan: The plan calls for “ending disparities in educational outcomes by striving for all students to meet or exceed grade-level achievement outcomes” (p. 5), echoing our commitment to creating inclusive STEM ecosystems that provide equitable access to opportunities.
- On Ramps to Opportunities:
Engage and develop local, Tribal, territorial, state, or regional STEM ecosystems that work with learners, families, and communities to build gradual and scalable on-ramps into higher education and STEM careers.” (p. 18) - Infrastructure for Alignment:
“Develop and expand community-centered opportunities that leverage and build on Community School models.” (p. 19) - STEM Relevance:
“Strategic partnerships can help ensure that what is taught and learned is relevant to the needs and realities of the communities that students come from, work in, or want to learn more from. Partnerships can also connect STEM activities to the needs and realities of communities, nonprofit organizations, the private sector, and academia, all of which use STEM information on a daily basis.” (p. 13)
Teaching & Learning | Reimagining STEM Learning Landscapes
Our vision: Leading the charge in transforming STEM education through dynamic partnerships that seamlessly blend formal and informal learning experiences.
Intersections in the Federal Plan: The federal strategy emphasizes connecting formal and informal learning experiences, validating our approach to creating comprehensive STEM learning environments.
- Connecting Formal and Informal Learning Experiences:
“Leverage transdisciplinary and convergent education approaches, including access to and the use of technology.” (p. 24) - Engaging Communities in Learning:
“improve the opportunities and increase the access that pre-K–12 students in formal education settings have to evidence-based instructional STEM materials, authentic STEM learning experiences, transdisciplinary or convergent learning resources, accessible educational technology, and well-prepared and adequately supported instructional staff.” (p. 24) - Student-Centered Approaches:
“Promote student-centric approaches and strategies, such as personalized learning and tutoring, work-based learning, and dual enrollment to support current approaches to classroom learning.” (p. 25)
Data Management | Pioneering Data-Driven STEM Advancement
Our vision: Leveraging cutting-edge measurement frameworks to illuminate the impact of STEM initiatives, driving evidence-based decision-making and continuous ecosystem evolution.
Intersections in the Federal Plan: The plan stresses the importance of data-driven decision-making, aligning with our focus on using data to drive continuous improvement in our ecosystems.
- Data Transparency and Accountability:
“Collaboration, coordination, and advancing federal efforts require transparency and accountability. Being transparent about federal actions and progress, promoting accountability within the federal government, and sharing the knowledge and the resources the government develops along the way helps the nation benefit and achieve more collectively than individually.” (p. 14) - Shared Vision for Data Collection:
“Sharing evaluations, assessments, and outcomes across federal agencies fosters collaboration and coordinated policymaking and increases awareness and use of evidence-based practices and assessment techniques. It has the potential to illuminate common gaps and/or needs across programs and supports the potential development of coordinated responses to address those gaps and/or needs.” (p. 14) - Evidence-Based Practices Supported by Data:
“Evaluating and assessing program performance and outcomes, through both quantitative and qualitative methods, is key to identifying which practices and strategies are effective (or ineffective) in which settings and for which group of individuals. Evaluating and assessing programs also enables the development of evidence-based practices.” (p. 14)
Workforce | Cultivating Future-Ready STEM Talent
Our vision: Forging robust pathways that lead to partnerships between education and industry, nurturing lifelong learners and building a diverse, adaptable STEM workforce primed for tomorrow’s challenges.
Intersections in the Federal Plan: The federal strategy emphasizes creating clear STEM career pathways, mirroring our commitment to connecting education with workforce needs.
- Training and Recruiting a STEM Workforce:
“STEM workforce reflects the wide range of individuals from across the nation who have the knowledge and skills to further drive innovation in order to meet the nation’s current and future challenges.” (p. 30) - Building Multiple Pathways into the STEM Workforce:
“To contribute to this national aspiration, CoSTEM aims to recruit and train learners and workers equitably through multiple pathways—including through career and technical education programs at the secondary and postsecondary level and other community college programs—to enter the national STEM workforce in areas that align with critical and emerging workforce needs.” (p. 33) - Cultivating a Global STEM Workforce:
“United States continues to be a global leader in STEM innovation and discovery, attracting and retaining top STEM talent from around the world while also preparing a domestic STEM workforce with global competencies to tackle worldwide challenges.” (p. 35)
Overall, the strategic plan views STEM ecosystems as essential for creating accessible, inclusive STEM learning opportunities across all education stages and career pathways. Developing and leveraging these ecosystems is seen as crucial for achieving the plan’s objectives around STEM engagement, education, and workforce development.
As we enter our second decade, we’re energized by this alignment with national priorities. Together, we’ll continue to create ripples of change that will resonate for generations to come, ensuring that every learner has the opportunity to thrive in STEM.
