Alan Lowenthal: “My amendment would increase STARBASE program funding by $5 million for fiscal year 2019, for a total of $35 million.…”

“My amendment would increase STARBASE program funding by $5 million for fiscal year 2019, for a total of $35 million. STARBASE is currently active in 33 States and Puerto Rico at a total of 66 locations. It engages local fifth grade elementary students by exposing them to STEM subjects through a hands-on curriculum. The program is carried out by the military services because the Department of Defense has identified a shortage of young adults graduating from the hard sciences. Many students in the program have no prior exposure to real-world STEM opportunities or military services. STARBASE strengthens ties between the military and their communities, and promotes strong STEM skills in the next generation of young people. Not only do students enjoy the STEM program, the program works. In 2017, for example, knowledge scores of chemistry, engineering, math, physics, and technology increased by almost 30 percent for all students. It consistently improves favorability scores of math and science. Students were 8.28 percent more likely to say that they liked engineering, for example. Again, I repeat: the program works. It is one of the most cost-effective programs across the Federal Government, costing only $328 per student. We had 2,952 classes in 2017, serving 1,381 schools. Since its inception, STARBASE has served approximately 1,110,590 students from 40 States.…”