ATEC Joins STEM Education Coalition in Call for Strong Federal STEM Investments
ATEC joined fellow education and workforce organizations in urging Congress to sustain critical federal investments in STEM education and training. In a September 25 letter to House and Senate appropriations leaders, the coalition commended bipartisan efforts to protect education programs in the FY 2026 budget and called for further action to safeguard STEM priorities.
The coalition emphasized how essential federal STEM funding is to America’s competitiveness, economic vitality, and national security. From afterschool programs to career and technical pathways, these investments strengthen opportunity for students, provide professional development for teachers, and help employers meet workforce needs.
The coalition expressed support for funding decisions that preserve vital STEM pathways, including:
- Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants at $1.38 billion.
- 21st Century Community Learning Centers (Title IV-B) at $1.329 billion.
- Title II-A Supporting Effective Instruction at $2.2 billion.
- Teacher Quality Partnership Grants, with a request for restoration to at least $70 million.
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) at $1.45 billion.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) at $9.0 billion overall, including $1.0 billion for the STEM Education Directorate.
Signatories to the letter include ATEC, the Society of Women Engineers, American Chemical Society, American Mathematical Society, Afterschool Alliance, DiscoverE, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Association of Science and Technology Centers, NAF (National Academy Foundation), and more than a dozen other national organizations representing STEM education, research, and workforce development.
ATEC will continue working alongside coalition partners to advocate for federal support of programs that strengthen technical education, prepare tomorrow’s aviation maintenance workforce, and maintain U.S. leadership in the global economy.