Equity in K-12 STEAM Education

Access to K-12 STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) is must needed by all students, yet it is still remains out of reach at many schools. STEAM education encourages discussion and problem solving in students. It develops both practical skills and encourage collaborations. STEAM integrates all five disciplines into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications. In these changes and complex world, out school going students must be trained to make sense of information, gathering and evaluating evidences for decision making, and to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems. To achieve this, it is important that issues like equity, accessibility, and inclusivity should be at the top of mind for educators in STEAM fields. The inequities, if exist in STEAM education, can impact diversity in STEAM careers. A lack of comprehensive STEAM curriculum can limit future career options for students. This article highlights the status and importance of Equity in K-12 STEM Education.