Dive Summary:

• Education and technology leaders participating in POLITICO Pro's Tech Deep Dive: STEM Policy’s Next Steps on Wednesday praised the Obama administration's efforts to expand science, technology, engineering and math education.
• Citizen Schools co-founder and CEO Eric Schwarz said that the STEM focus additionally needs a cultural shift in classrooms, longer school days and involvement from tech communities to be successful, and the panel agreed that reformers must make sure states have a path available for tech professionals to teach.
• National Education Association secretary-treasurer Becky Pringle said that although federal competitive education grants can help increase STEM resources, they don't solve gaps in low-income schools, though some panelists agreed that policies like Race to the Top do encourage state legislatures to act.

From the article:

... Tom Kalil, the White House’s deputy director for technology and innovation, said the Obama administration’s efforts include preparing and recruiting 100,000 new STEM teachers and opening opportunities to get more younger students interested in STEM.

Asked about whether Congress needs to take steps to boost STEM education, Kalil said, “They are hearing not just the administration, but they’re also hearing from the private sector.” ...