Dod STARBASE Program
To ensure a literate citizenry that can compete in the global market place and meet our own employment requirements, the Department of Defense (DoD) seeks to foster strong relationships with future scientists and engineers as well as to engage teachers in transforming STEM education. The DoD STARBASE program is part of that solution as it captures students’ interest in STEM at the elementary and middle school levels, a critical time to intervene and prevent students from losing interest in STEM. At DoD STARBASE, students’ awareness of potential careers in these fields increases as they discover jobs that they had never even considered. They learn the requirements for these challenging careers and why studying and selecting courses in STEM is so important to achieve their goals. Their interests and knowledge in STEM are critical to our nation’s future in building and sustaining a highly educated and skilled workforce capable of meeting the advanced technological requirements of the Department of Defense.
Since its inception in 1993, the DoD STARBASE program has served over 1,300,000 students from over 400 school districts in 32 states and Puerto Rico. The scope of STEM engagement at DoD STARBASE is vast as there are many avenues designed to increase student involvement and interest in STEM, inform them of STEM’s value in their lives, or positively influence the perception of their ability to participate in STEM.
STARBASE Maxwell
Since its inception in 2004, STARBASE Maxwell, a STEM education awareness and outreach program focused primarily on fifth graders, has served diverse populations that have been historically underrepresented in STEM career fields or low socioeconomic populations who may not otherwise have access to these STEM opportunities.
The STARBASE Maxwell program directly supports the Department of Defense’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) FY2016 - FY2020 Strategic Plan’s vision, mission and goals by serving as a foundational awareness and workforce development program that highlights STEM awareness as a core component. The nationally recognized STARBASE program is one of the primary tools that the DoD has in its inventory to contribute to the ongoing, renewed national effort intended to close the serious achievement gap with competing nations and to perpetuate our long-term security and prosperity.
The STARBASE curriculum also correlates with national math and science standards for grades 5-8 as well as Alabama’s Department of Public Instruction State Standards.
