STEM
Education & Academia abbreviation · K-12 Education
| Stands for | Science, technology, engineering and mathematics |
|---|---|
| Categories | Education & Academia |
STEM stands for Science, technology, engineering and mathematics, a K-12 education abbreviation.
Umbrella term for the four disciplines treated as a group in education policy, workforce planning and funding, from elementary robotics clubs to university degree lists. Governments promote STEM education because these fields are linked to innovation and high-paying jobs.
Example: The district opened a STEM magnet school with engineering labs and a coding curriculum.
Usage notes
The National Science Foundation popularized the acronym in the early 2000s, replacing the earlier SMET. The US Department of Homeland Security maintains a STEM Designated Degree Program List that qualifies international graduates for extended OPT work authorization. Variants include STEAM (adding arts) and STEMM (adding medicine). Pronounced as a word, "stem".
Related abbreviations
More K-12 education abbreviations
- SLD – Specific learning disability
- SLP – Speech-language pathologist
- SPED – Special education
- SRO – School resource officer
- SST – Student study team
- STEAM – Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics
- SY – School year
- TAG – Talented and gifted
- TK – Transitional kindergarten
- UDL – Universal Design for Learning
- USD – Unified school district
- WIDA – WIDA (originally Wisconsin, Delaware, Arkansas)