We are excited to announce that the NSF has funded the 2027 National Survey of Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering Education (NSSME+), the seventh iteration of this vital study. Led by Horizon Research, Inc., the 2027 NSSME+ will build upon previous studies, continuing to provide critical insights into the state of STEM education in the United States.
Since its inception in 1977, the NSSME has monitored key elements of K–12 education in STEM collecting valuable data on teacher preparation, course offerings, textbook usage, instructional strategies, and more. The 2027 study will also offer a timely opportunity to evaluate the impacts of recent events and emerging trends, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the integration of computer science into other subjects, advancements in AI, and the rise of personalized learning systems.
As we move forward, work on the 2027 NSSME+ will include four main components:
Sample Design & School Recruitment
Instrument Development
Data Collection
Data Analysis & Dissemination
The study will provide data on teacher characteristics, including teacher content background and demographics; course offerings and enrollments; instructional materials usage; instructional strategies; and assessment practices. The study will produce several reports and other products to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. These will include an overall technical report, trend reports highlighting stability or changes in data on key indicators collected over multiple iterations of the study, and subject and grade-band specific reports (e.g., The Status of Middle School Mathematics, The Status of High School Biology). The study will also make the data collected available to other researchers for secondary analysis. These and other products of the study will be freely available on the study website. Initial results will be available by the end of 2027.
2027 NSSME+ Endorsers
