An implementation study of the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) in New York State

As global demands for workers in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields persist, there are increased opportunities for historically underrepresented African-American and Latino youth to fill STEM career pipelines. African-American and Latino youth have long faced disproportionately high unemployment rates. Joblessness has been complicated by lower high school graduation rates for African-American and Latino youth. Significant federal and state funding has been allocated to address this state of affairs. Research findings on STEM career development programs for historically underrepresented youth can inform public policy and resource allocation.;The career development provided by the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) of the New York State Education Department is nationally recognized. STEP plays a major role in strengthening STEM career pipelines for youth who are historically underrepresented in post-secondary STEM courses of study. STEP is a recipient of a Presidential Award for Excellence for mentoring secondary students as they transition successfully into undergraduate and graduate academic programs that lead to STEM careers.;This comparative study of four STEP sites is a process evaluation. The study examines STEP state policy as adopted and local STEP implementation processes. The study findings are derived from official documents and semi-structured interviews with key STEP personnel at the state and local levels. This timely study yields important findings about program design as well as the will and capacity of program implementers. It identifies ways to strengthen the capacity of STEM career development programs for economically disadvantaged youth.;The study suggests that K-16 partnerships should be characterized by implementation flexibility so that career development staff may connect and restructure program activities to best meet programming needs. This flexibility can lead to instructive solutions regarding increased parental involvement and male participation in career development programming. The findings also suggest that when partnering organizations work in close proximity with one another, transparent, professional relationships are cultivated. These partnering organizations should extend beyond K-16 organizations in order to broaden the constituency that has a stake in the success of programs that serve historically underrepresented ethnic minorities.