STEM Education in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) defines STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as an integrated, interdisciplinary, and student-centered approach to learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, artistic expression, collaboration, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and design thinking.
STEM learning in Pennsylvania is built on the following foundational beliefs:
- All students are capable of STEM literacy.
- Iteration and reflection are an important part of the STEM learning process.
- STEM education transcends the classroom walls, integrating into the community.
- STEM education success depends upon the partnership between educators, students, families, postsecondary providers, local officials, business and industry.
The Governor's STEM Competition challenges student teams from across the state to research, design, and present a device that can make the quality of life better for Pennsylvanians by accomplishing a series of practical tasks that can fulfill real-world needs.
The competition is open to students in grades 9 through 12 who attend a public, charter, or private school, a career and technical education center, or a student being homeschooled in Pennsylvania.
What is the Governor's STEM Competition?
PaTTANpod: Mentoring students in Governor's STEM Competition (YouTube)
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) facilitates the annual competition.
Some of the most technologically diverse and scientifically sophisticated businesses and organizations in the world call Pennsylvania home, and they need highly skilled employees to fulfill careers based in STEM.
Expanding and enhancing STEM learning for students (our future workforce) has been a top priority of the administration. The Governor's STEM Competition creates opportunities for students to take the STEM skills they've learned in the classroom and put them to use.
Working with their community, students are required to research, develop, and present a device that can improve the lives of Pennsylvanians and accomplish a series of practical tasks that can fulfill real-world needs.
The competition is open to students in grades 9 through 12 who attend a public, charter, or private school, a career and technical education center, or are homeschooled in Pennsylvania.
Interested in Contributing to the Competition?
Are you interested in supporting the 2025 Governor's STEM Competition? You can participate as an in-kind donator, a sponsor of a promotional table, or a judge for the competition. As an in-kind donator, you'll provide promotional items from your business for the students' swag bags. As a sponsor of a promotional table, you'll showcase your products or services and engage with potential students or employees. As a judge, you can evaluate student projects either in person, virtually, or both. Please fill out the Intent to Contribute Form to indicate your preferred option, and we will get in touch with you.
