Chapter 5: Nurturing Multiple Curiosities: Priorities From a National Survey

Students from underrepresented groups may avoid science coursework and career aspirations in part due to a perceived disconnect between the intellectual curiosity inherent in scientific disciplines and the empathic need to connect with other humans and enrich their lives. With the creation of many more science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused elementary and high schools, addressing this problematic disconnect seems vital to recruiting a larger and more diverse cadre of STEM professionals. We do not know whether administrators at these newly formed schools report such practices as priorities in their curricular and instructional decisions. This investigation reports findings of a nationwide survey aimed at determining what priorities exist among administrators at STEM-focused high schools and the implications these priorities may have for integrating service learning and community engagement into science education.