Students who took STEM classes were more likely to attend school and be prepared for class and less likely to be suspended. This trend isn’t seen in middle-to-high income families.
Career and technical education courses are designed to be engaging. STEM-related career and technical education courses focus on engineering technology and computer science. These courses teach students applied skills through hands-on experiences. They are meant to prepare students for success in both college and career.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many students were disengaged from school because learning remotely isn’t for everybody. Students from low-income backgrounds in particular had lower engagement than students from middle- or high-income backgrounds.
In Michigan alone, the pandemic resulted in a decrease in enrollment of 53,000 students, with some students choosing not to go to school.
“Studies show that students who are more engaged in school have better grades and test scores, better chances of graduating, fewer behavioral problems and are more likely to earn more later in life. STEM-related career and technical education courses are also related to several of these same outcomes,” Plasman says.
