KRS 158.846: Legislative findings concerning academic achievement in STEM

disciplines.

The General Assembly hereby finds that:

(1) The future of Kentucky depends upon the ability to develop intellectual capital that

can drive the research and development activities that will allow the

Commonwealth to successfully compete in the global knowledge-based economy;

(2) Kentucky's natural resources, the nation's need for energy independence, and the

worldwide movement toward the creation of cleaner and more sustainable energy

technologies afford Kentucky the opportunity to become an international le ader in

energy diversification;

(3) Strengthening Kentucky's position in key areas of the knowledge -based economy,

including energy and environmental technology, biosciences, materials science,

advanced manufacturing, information technology, human health a nd development,

and other fields, requires a strong and steady stream of researchers, workers,

policymakers, and entrepreneurs trained in the STEM disciplines;

(4) The number of Kentucky's elementary and secondary students interested in

pursuing, and adequ ately prepared for success in, the STEM disciplines in college

and the workforce is insufficient to meet the challenges and opportunities with

which Kentucky is confronted;

(5) The number of Kentucky's elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers who

are highly qualified to provide instruction in the STEM disciplines is insufficient to

adequately prepare students for careers in the knowledge-based economy; and

(6) Bold, collaborative, and strategic action is needed by all stakeholders in Kentucky's

P-20 education system, business sector, and government to improve Kentucky's

position for success in the knowledge -based economy by expanding and

strengthening STEM educational opportunities from prekindergarten through the

doctoral degree level, inspiring more Kentuckians to pursue those opportunities, and

linking those opportunities with a coherent set of statewide economic and

workforce development strategies.