Gov. Reynolds issues Executive Order 14 to enhance and expand STEM education for all Iowa students

Gov. Reynolds signed Executive Order 14 on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Announced during STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair, the order directs the Governor's STEM Advisory Council "to ensure that every Iowa student in every geographic location and from every background has access to cutting-edge educational opportunities."

The STEM Advisory Council was first established in July 2011 by Governor Terry Branstad and chaired by then Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds to develop the K-12 talent pipeline for STEM careers.

"Over the past 14 years, the state has provided cutting-edge STEM materials, programs, and work-based learning opportunities for countless Iowa students. We've also empowered STEM teachers to transform the classroom, and we've honored their hard-won accomplishments," Governor Reynolds stated. "Even so, the nature of STEM continues to change, and with it the nature of work. Advancements in AI and IT are impacting virtually every career in the market. If we want the next generations of Iowans to be prepared for life outside the classroom, we need to begin equipping them now."

Executive Order 14 directs that the Governor's STEM Advisory Council shall be co-chaired by the Lt. Governor of Iowa and a co-chair appointed by the Governor of Iowa for a two-year term. Goals and objectives are also outlined and include connecting STEM classroom content with structured work-based learning experiences, driving career exploration and development, and recommending policy changes that strengthen K-12 STEM instruction.