The effort to improve STEM skills in Hawaii is critical to address Hawaii's serious and ongoing challenges in its educational performance and workforce development efforts. These challenges limit the economic future and professional opportunities for our youth, and limit our statewide economic development opportunities.
Efforts to enhance STEM opportunities for hands-on learning experiences were gaining momentum as people recognized the need for students to develop 21st Century skills. In 2007, building on the growing awareness that the U.S. was falling behind internationally in preparing our workforce to be globally competitive, Hawaii's governor and legislature supported the development of several new programs. The objective is to bring focus and resources to making STEM programs more widely available throughout the State. The Governor has released ARRA Part B funds to continue and expand these initiatives.
These programs and other new and ongoing STEM activities will help assure that contextual learning opportunities are available to every public school student in the State, in order to increase student interest in STEM-related subjects and careers. Additionally these objectives are to raise the educational standards, and make our students more literate in 21st century skills and therefore more competitive in future job markets in Hawaii and elsewhere. These efforts will also raise the economic well-being of all citizens of Hawaii.
MySTEM Hawaii Mentoring Program will be available to students throughout the State of Hawaii. Our mission is to promote and support quality mentoring relationships, foster positive youth development and academic success, and provide experiential learning opportunities while increasing awareness of participation in mentoring. Coming soon!