There are plenty of reasons why afterschool programs should be incorporating STEM learning. Here are a few of the statistics and quotes offered in national reports making the case for STEM:

1. 80% of future jobs will require STEM literacy. Yet, students spend less than 20% of their waking hours inside a school-day classroom. A number of studies show that STEM learning during the school day is necessary but not sufficient for lifelong STEM literacy. (Afterschool Alliance)
   
   
2. Students in the United States rank 25th in math and 17th in science skills among their peers in other industrialized countries. (Afterschool Alliance)
   
   
3. Workforce projections indicate that California and the nation as a whole will require far greater numbers of individuals with science, technology, engineering and math degrees if we are going to maintain a leadership role in the global economy. Employers cite the need for a larger STEM labor pool, as well as a need for graduates who possess 21st century skills. (California STEM Learning Network)
   
   
4. A STEM-literate workforce adds value, productivity, and innovations to the local, state and national economy. (National Governors Association)
   
   
5. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment in science and math occupations will grow 70 percent faster than the overall growth for all occupations. With over 3 million students expected to graduate from high school in 2011, the stakes are high to ensure that we are providing a pipeline of students for the future workforce who are effectively trained with the tools to succeed. (Center for Digital Education)
   
   
6. Many students, especially those from underrepresented communities, find it difficult to envision themselves in these careers due to the lack of role models in their local communities. (California STEM Learning Network)
   
   
7. As youth get older they report significantly less interest and self-confidence in their science ability. Children ages 6-12 report a high level of interest and belief in their science abilities; by age 14, interest and self-confidence related to science drops off. (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics)
   
   
8. Interest in science careers among eighth grade students can be a better predictor than test performance in determining which students will pursue careers in science. (Basken 2006)
   
   
9. Students need to see the relevance of STEM to their personal goals and daily lives, especially in the middle school years and beyond, which may account for a large part of the gap in student achievement. Students' lack of ability to see the relevance of what they are learning in school to their personal lives impacts the degree to which they apply themselves in school, and the degree to which they stay in school. (Gates Foundation 2006)
   
   
10. The data from studies indicate that afterschool science programs can improve students' attitudes towards science; increase their scientific knowledge and skills; and, in some cases, raise grades, test scores, and college attendance. (Schwartz & Noam 2007, as cited in a 2008 Harvard Program in Education, Afterschool & Resiliency study)
    
    
11. Participation in science afterschool and in summer programs has been correlated with increased likelihood of selecting science-related college majors. (Schwartz & Noam 2007, as cited in a 2008 Harvard Program in Education, Afterschool & Resiliency study)
    
    
12. In September 2010, President Obama announced the Educate to Innovate campaign to "raise American students to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade." Then during his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama said, "We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair."

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