Kilmer Encourages Continued Development of National AP Engineering Course
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Larry Bucshon (IN-08) encouraged continued development of the framework for a national Advanced Placement (AP) Engineering course. In a bipartisan letter to the National Science Foundation (NSF), the members encouraged the NSF to make investments in engineering similar to the AP Computer Science Principles course, set to launch in the fall of 2016. Kilmer and Bucshon were joined by 53 other members of Congress in sending the letter to NSF.
“We support the continuation of your efforts in developing AP courses in Engineering and Computer Science with stakeholders, such as the College Board, universities, educators, and industry,” Kilmer wrote in the letter sent today. “Collaborative work on these courses will help ensure students are receiving college-level education and learning concepts applicable in the workforce. We applaud the NSF’s partnership with the College Board in providing funding for production of the AP Computer Science Principles curriculum framework. We encourage the NSF to similarly invest in the development of an AP Engineering course as well.”
In the letter, Kilmer noted that it’s important for the American education system to address an increase in demand for technological and engineering competence in the global workforce. The U.S. Department of Commerce has reported that in the last 10 years, job growth for STEM careers has increased three times more than that of non-STEM jobs. Developing curriculum for high school students to engage in and access college-level courses is part of the drive to get students prepared for jobs that are in demand. According to Washington STEM this can have significant benefit in Washington state because the state continues to have significant job vacancies in STEM fields.
“We need to equip our kids with the skills they need to be successful in an increasingly technology-driven workforce,” said Kilmer in the letter. “This dependence on technology and our capacity for innovation is a major source of U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. Our educators should be provided with tools to instill in our students an awareness and passion for computer science and engineering.”
Kilmer is a leading advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning. He authored a set of principles to guide the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act which invests and expands STEM programs to increase access for students of all backgrounds. He also held a STEM App Design competition earlier this year to encourage high school students to engage in STEM learning.
The full text of the letter is below:
Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy Dr. Pramod Khargonekar
Assistant Director Assistant Director
Directorate for Education and Human Resources Directorate for Engineering
The National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard 4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22230 Arlington, Virginia 22230
Dr. Suzi Iacono
Acting Assistant Director
Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
The National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22230
Dear Dr. Ferrini-Mundy, Dr. Khargonekar, and Dr. Iacono,
We applaud your work in continuing to develop the Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles and Engineering courses by collaborating with and convening stakeholders, including the College Board, universities, educators, and industry. This effort recognizes the importance of professional development and rightly creates new opportunities for educators who wish to advance their knowledge in this subject matter and teach these courses.
The United States is a technology-driven society and our capacity for technological innovation is a major source of U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. Engineers are key contributors to technological innovation and engineering employment can be both intellectually and financially rewarding for individual U.S. workers and their families. Engineering knowledge and skills can also be valuable to non-engineers who benefit from using these skill sets in their everyday life and in non-engineering occupations.
In order to meet the increasing demand for technological and engineering competence, as well as equip future generations with the skills they will need to be successful, our nation’s education system needs to instill in our students an awareness and passion for computer science and engineering.
The National Academies has said that K-12 engineering education may contribute to student learning, achievement in science and mathematics, increased awareness of engineering and the work of engineers, as well as boost youth interest in pursuing engineering as a career, and increase the technological literacy of all students. By developing AP computer science and engineering courses, the NSF is taking an important step forward in continuing the work of integrating these critical fields into K-12 education.
We support the continuation of your efforts in developing AP courses in Engineering and Computer Science with stakeholders, such as the College Board, universities, educators, and industry. Collaborative work on these courses will help ensure students are receiving college-level education and learning concepts applicable in the workforce.
We applaud the NSF’s partnership with the College Board in providing funding for production of the AP Computer Science Principles curriculum framework. We encourage the NSF to similarly invest in the development of an AP Engineering course as well.
Sincerely,
DEREK KILMER LARRY BUCSHON
Member of Congress Member of Congress
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