The Columbia Daily Herald – Staff Writer
“Legislation designed to amplify and accelerate regional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education in Tennessee was approved by lawmakers during the closing week of the 2015 session. The new law requires the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network to establish a STEM innovation hub that is dedicated to serving rural areas of Tennessee, including the northwest portion of the state. It also calls for making a curriculum available to all middle schools that educate students on the variety and benefits of STEM careers. STEM and STEM-related completions at Tennessee institutions were approximately 28,800 in 2013, which is an increase of 31 percent in just five years. Civics Education — Legislation promoting civics education in Tennessee has passed the General Assembly. The new law makes components of the test administered by the United State Citizenship and Immigration Services to those seeking citizenship one of the tools used in assessing student progress under Tennessee’s civics education program. The legislation calls on local education agencies to utilize 25 to 50 of the 100 questions posed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the citizenship test.”(more)