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STEM Endorsement Uptake and Completion in Texas High Schools, Graduating Classes of 2018-2023. Policy Brief

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Title: STEM Endorsement Uptake and Completion in Texas High Schools, Graduating Classes of 2018-2023. Policy Brief
Language: English
Authors: Jordan Conwell, Jane Furey, Katy Doncer, Michael Dinh, Carly May, Cameron Rua-Smith, Texas Education Research Center
Source: Texas Education Research Center. 2026.
Availability: Texas Education Research Center. University of Texas at Austin, Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Road, Bldg #137 TCB, Rm 1.143A, L4500, Austin, TX 78758; Tel: 512-471-4528; Web site: https://texaserc.utexas.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 4
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Grade 9
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Descriptors: High School Students, STEM Education, Science Programs, State Programs, Program Effectiveness, Student Characteristics, Geographic Location, Educational Attainment, Academic Achievement, State Legislation, Grade 9, Achievement Tests, Algebra, Educational Background
Geographic Terms: Texas
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR)
Abstract: In 2013, the Texas House passed House Bill 5 (HB5), introducing student "endorsements" for high schools across the state. Endorsements are intended to provide students with depth in a specific knowledge area or subject and to signal students' completion of a bundle of such coursework to colleges and employers. One endorsement offered is in STEM -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Increased STEM skills can potentially result in Texas students having clear indicators of in-demand skills, more efficient education-to-career linkages, and higher incomes. In the study, the authors investigated access to the STEM endorsement across Texas. They find that students who complete Algebra I by 8th grade are more likely to complete the STEM endorsement, as are students who not free or reduced price eligible. Students who are Asian or White are more likely to complete the STEM endorsement than students who are Black, Hispanic, or multiracial. Specifically, the authors answer the following research questions: (1) How many Texas students have attempted and completed the STEM endorsement?; (2) Are there differences in STEM endorsement uptake and completion by students' social and demographic characteristics, geographic distribution, and/or 8th grade achievement?; and (3) How much does STEM course-taking vary among students who complete and do not complete the STEM endorsement?
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679716
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: STEM Endorsement Uptake and Completion in Texas High Schools, Graduating Classes of 2018-2023. Policy Brief
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jordan+Conwell%22">Jordan Conwell</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jane+Furey%22">Jane Furey</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katy+Doncer%22">Katy Doncer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michael+Dinh%22">Michael Dinh</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carly+May%22">Carly May</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cameron+Rua-Smith%22">Cameron Rua-Smith</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Texas+Education+Research+Center%22">Texas Education Research Center</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Texas+Education+Research+Center%22"><i>Texas Education Research Center</i></searchLink>. 2026.
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  Data: Texas Education Research Center. University of Texas at Austin, Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Road, Bldg #137 TCB, Rm 1.143A, L4500, Austin, TX 78758; Tel: 512-471-4528; Web site: https://texaserc.utexas.edu/
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  Data: N
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  Data: 4
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Reports - Research
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  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+Education%22">STEM Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Programs%22">Science Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Programs%22">State Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Characteristics%22">Student Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geographic+Location%22">Geographic Location</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Attainment%22">Educational Attainment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Legislation%22">State Legislation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Achievement+Tests%22">Achievement Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Algebra%22">Algebra</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Background%22">Educational Background</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Texas%22">Texas</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectThesaurus
  Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22State+of+Texas+Assessments+of+Academic+Readiness+%28STAAR%29%22">State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In 2013, the Texas House passed House Bill 5 (HB5), introducing student "endorsements" for high schools across the state. Endorsements are intended to provide students with depth in a specific knowledge area or subject and to signal students' completion of a bundle of such coursework to colleges and employers. One endorsement offered is in STEM -- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Increased STEM skills can potentially result in Texas students having clear indicators of in-demand skills, more efficient education-to-career linkages, and higher incomes. In the study, the authors investigated access to the STEM endorsement across Texas. They find that students who complete Algebra I by 8th grade are more likely to complete the STEM endorsement, as are students who not free or reduced price eligible. Students who are Asian or White are more likely to complete the STEM endorsement than students who are Black, Hispanic, or multiracial. Specifically, the authors answer the following research questions: (1) How many Texas students have attempted and completed the STEM endorsement?; (2) Are there differences in STEM endorsement uptake and completion by students' social and demographic characteristics, geographic distribution, and/or 8th grade achievement?; and (3) How much does STEM course-taking vary among students who complete and do not complete the STEM endorsement?
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  Data: ERIC
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED679716
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED679716
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 4
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Programs
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      – SubjectFull: State Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Student Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Geographic Location
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Attainment
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      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
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      – SubjectFull: State Legislation
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      – SubjectFull: Grade 9
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      – SubjectFull: Achievement Tests
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      – TitleFull: STEM Endorsement Uptake and Completion in Texas High Schools, Graduating Classes of 2018-2023. Policy Brief
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