Chamber Advocates New Education Reform Plan

Identifies Deficiencies in Current System and Offers Recommendations

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Chamber of Commerce today announced that it is one of 15 business organizations supporting an education plan to double the number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduates by the year 2015.

"America is at risk of losing its scientific and technological leadership in the world," said Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. "We must improve the quality of our educational system in the fields of math and science. The cause is right. The partners are in place. And the time is now."

The business organizations' report Tapping America's Potential: The Education for Innovation Initiative found several indicators suggesting that the United States is losing its innovative edge. For instance the report shows that the percentage of students planning to pursue engineering degrees declined by one-third between 1992 and 2002 and that funding for basic research in the physical sciences has declined significantly since 1970.

"We need to build a strong focus on math and science today so that we continue to encourage leaders in these fields tomorrow," Donohue added. "It is no secret that in this country we are on the verge of losing a future generation of highly skilled technical individuals, and we cannot let that happen."

The report offers five specific recommendations to improve our educational system:

• Build public support for making science, technology, engineering, and math improvement a national priority
• Motivate U.S. students and adults to study and enter these fields
• Upgrade K–12 math and science teaching to foster higher student achievement
• Reform visa and immigration policies to enable the United States to attract and retain the best science, math, and engineering students worldwide
• Increase funding for basic research, especially in the physical sciences and engineering

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

A copy of the education report is available online.

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