Tennessee Promotes STEM Innovation
Phil Bredesen, the Democratic governor of Tennessee, says the Volunteer State has what it takes to become a national leader in science, engineering and technology. To further that goal, Bredesen recently signed an executive order establishing the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, which will work to promote and expand the teaching of STEM subjects in schools across the state, according to the website, Tennesseeanytime.org.
The network will operate out of the state’s Department of Education, which will work with local school districts to coordinate STEM education activities, including curriculum and professional development. Management of the network will be handled by Battelle Memorial Institute, a nonprofit science and technology research group. Battelle helped Tennessee put together its winning bid in the Race to the Top competition, which snagged the state a $501 million grant.
The governor also named a 24-member advisory council to the STEM network, the website says. Its members will include state education officials, lawmakers, teachers and five representatives from STEM-related industries.
Filed under: K-12 Education News
Tags: Education Policy, Outreach for Schools, Programs for Teachers, Public Policy, STEM education
