ACS Policy Priority

Strengthen Science Education and the Scientific Workforce

America needs scientific and engineering professionals. To equip today’s students with the skills to fill the technical jobs of tomorrow, we must improve science and mathematics education at the K-12, community college, undergraduate, and graduate levels. We also need to encourage talented people to enter science and engineering fields. Workforce policies must respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by an aging demographic, a more diverse workforce, and major shifts in employment practices. ACS supports efforts to

Enable lifelong, strong, inquiry-based science education for everyone in both formal and informal settings to improve the scientific understanding of all our citizens.
Strengthen the quality of teaching through increased partnership and support of pre- and in-service training of educators from the kindergarten through the graduate school levels.
Encourage the best and the brightest to pursue scientific careers, particularly more women, underrepresented minorities, and people with disabilities.
Strengthen professional opportunities and employment-related incentives for science and engineering practitioners.

Statement	Position
Science Education Policy	Summarizes the science education policies of ACS.
Healthcare Policy	Supports access to affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans sets out broad principles that should guide policy on Association Healthcare Plans and other healthcare options now under serious discussion.
Computer Simulations in Academic Laboratories	Computer simulations that mimic laboratory procedures have the potential to be a useful supplement to student hands-on activities, but not a substitute for them.
Employment Non-Discrimination	Recommends that federal legislation extends employment discrimination protection to include sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity.
Funding - Department of Education (FY10)	Supports $450 million (151 percent increase) for Math and Science Partnership for K-12 teacher training and $95 million for the Math Now initiative.
Retirement Security	Reviews the challenges chemical professionals face and calls for Congress to deal with the major areas impacting financial and health security of retirees.
Teaching of Evolutionary Theory	Supports teaching of evolutions and opposes alternate, non-scientific theories in the science classroom. Urges states and localities to support high-quality science standards and curricula.