Opportunities to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—or STEM—subjects are lacking at rural schools in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, according to a new report.
The study from the Pittsburgh-based Chevron Center for STEM Education and Career Development found that there is a shortage of qualified STEM workers across the region.
The authors say that the shortage may be due to several factors, including a lack of students prepared for high-level STEM coursework, teachers inexperienced with teaching STEM, and shrinking education budgets that have made STEM a lower priority.