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METS

Background
In today’s increasingly competitive global economy, significant benefits accrue to states and regions who build an education advantage to complement other economic and community assets. In particular, math and science competencies are generally accepted as the gateway skills to economic prosperity in an New Economy characterized by exponential increases in international trade, communications, technology, and innovation. Instead of competing with surrounding states such as Kansas and Illinois for highly skilled, family supporting jobs we are facing competition from countries like China and India whose populations are outpacing ours in terms of sheer numbers, education, and skill attainment. In this New Economy, we need all Missouri students and our state’s workers armed with the essential knowledge and skills needed for success, including a firm educational foundation in math and science. Recent data reinforces the need.
  • In Missouri, on average, recent METS college graduates earn 18% more than their counterparts in non-METS fields.
  • METS based industries accounted for three-quarters of Missouri’s $10.6 billion in products and services exported in 2005.
  • METS based industries accounted for 25% of Missouri’s new business formation in 2005.
  • In 2006, high tech employment accounted for just 4% of Missouri’s employment with an average wage of $65,512.
There is a clear need for Missouri to increase math and science core competencies in order to improve its future economic competitiveness, the importance of which was firmly established at Governor Blunt’s math, engineering, technology and science (METS) Summit held on April 25, 2006. At the close of the summit, Gov. Blunt appointed a number of the attendees representing local and state government, public education systems and businesses to a working group aptly named the Math, Engineering, Technology and Science Alliance. He charged this group with the responsibility of raising the bar for student achievement in the state, and making Missouri a national leader in math, engineering, technology and science.

Action Plan
The METS Alliance delivered its recommendations to the governor in September. Since then, the alliance has worked diligently on a plan of action to encourage students to succeed in METS-related fields through a variety of strategies, including:
  • Improve the performance of all pre-school through graduate school students
    The METS Alliance Report calls for the revision of Missouri’s Grade Level Expectations and assessments for pre-school through high school students, while ensuring that these revisions work hand in hand with collegiate standards as well.
  • Expand the pool of students motivated to pursue METS careers
    The METS Alliance Report recommends improving academic and career counseling, so more students know what career opportunities exist and how to achieve in those careers. The report also suggests exposing students to real-world METS experiences through partnerships with businesses, laboratories, museums and zoos or internships and fieldtrips. The METS Alliance Report recommends initiatives to celebrate and reward students who excel in METS studies and activities.
  • Expand the pool of quality METS educators
    Missouri is facing a severe shortage of METS educators in our public schools, so the METS Alliance Report recommends that the state provides incentives to recruit and retain quality math and science teachers. The plan also calls for innovative approaches to help people working in METS fields to also have the opportunity to teach their areas of expertise to students, opening a resource that is currently untapped in Missouri.
  • Establish a technology plan to support METS efforts
    An important initiative in the plan is the establishment of a standard technology suite for all schools, including a strong teacher-training component that will ensure Missouri educators maximize the investment in this critical teaching tool. Standardizing technology across all Missouri institutions will also give Missouri an economy of scale, and will make it easier for educators to collaborate teaching methods across the state. The METS Alliance Report also calls for creating an online portal that schools across the state can use as a resource for sharing best practices.
  • Increase public awareness of the value of METS knowledge and METS-related careers
    The success of this initiative revolves around changing the mindset of students, parents, educators, business leaders and the general public about the importance of METS disciplines not just for those students seeking to become mathematicians and scientists, but for all students’ quality of life. A public awareness campaign operating on various levels – from public service announcements to grassroots action through local chambers of commerce and other community groups – is recommended in the METS Alliance Report
Another key recommendation calls for the creation of a non-profit organization to oversee the efforts to improve METS performance in the state and increase public awareness of the issues facing the state’s employers and employees. The organization would also serve as a collaborator to bring business, education, and community groups together to work on solving the problem, and to extend the reach of this group across the state.

Please visit the Missouri METS Coalition website for more information.