On February 2, 2009, a group of California science and mathematics teachers, policymakers, researchers, and representatives from business, industry, and higher education met to consider how California could do a better job of preparing today's students for the future STEM workforce. The symposium was co-sponsored by CCST and the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning (CFTL), as well as the California Teacher Advisory Council.

The Sacramento meeting fulfilled a Cal TAC goal of bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and classroom teachers to consider how California can do a better job of preparing today's students for the future STEM workforce, which is seen as vital to California's future.

"High-caliber science and math education pays many dividends," said CCST Board Member Bruce Alberts. "It not only imparts precisely the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that modern business and industry need to compete in the global marketplace, but also promotes the rational decision making that yields thoughtful, productive citizens."

Meeting participants identified specific options for creating a well-prepared STEM workforce, ranging from improving professional development opportunities for science and math teachers (so that the supply of qualified teachers increases and is more evenly distributed) to changing the assessment tools used to gauge students' proficiency in science and math. A detailed summary of the symposium, Creating a Well-Prepared STEM Workforce: How Do We Get From Here To There?, was published in April 2009.