The Education Department has disclosed that it alloted $279M of funds for science, technology, engineering and math programs in fiscal year 2018, in compliance with President Trump’s directive to increase access to STEM education.
The department said Thursday the partnership grants under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs received the biggest investment at $108M, followed by the Education Innovation and Research initiative at $66.8M, the department said Thursday.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos noted that the efforts will help expose American students to STEM education early in their academic lives, as well as equip them with resources needed in the modern economy.
The department added that it will continue to resolve blank spots in STEM programs, after the recently released “2015-2016 Civil Rights Data Collection” study revealed that a majority of eighth graders attending schools that offer Algebra I do not attend the class.
The report also presented that the locations and types of schools, as well as the rate of enrollment affect students’ access to STEM courses.