Q-12 Education Partnership

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation are spearheading a partnership between the Federal government, industry, professional societies and the education community that will foster a range of training opportunities to increase the capabilities and number of students who are ready to engage in the quantum workforce.  This starts with outreach and education in middle school and high school, introducing quantum technologies and science to inspire the next generation and continues by broadening access to learning materials and quantum-related curricula beyond university labs and classrooms, to community colleges and online courses.

This partnership enables a foundation for classroom and curricular materials, developed in concert with key stakeholders from the quantum information science community. It encourages hands-on experiences with quantum tools in the classroom and through online venues and connecting students to public and private quantum career opportunities via internships, externships and other pathways.

Accordingly, the National Q-12 Education Partnership, where Q-12 is a play on quantum and K-12, commits over the next decade to work with America’s educators to ensure a strong quantum learning environment, from providing classroom tools for hands-on experiences to developing educational materials, to supporting pathways to quantum careers. By expanding access to materials and quantum technologies through this partnership, educators in classrooms and other settings will be able to develop programs, courses, and activities to introduce students to the field and open up opportunities for quantum careers. Together, we can prepare America’s next generation workforce with the tools to succeed in the industries of the future.

Kickoff Event

Q-12 Education Partnership Kick-off Event

On October 7, 2020, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy National Quantum Coordination Office and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) hosted the inaugural meeting of the National Q-12 Education Partnership, a public-private initiative working to inspire the next generation of leaders in quantum information science (QIS).

The meeting, co-organized with the NSF-funded Q2Work program, brought together over 170 stakeholders from across academia, early education, industry, the federal government, and non-profit organizations to discuss opportunities to increase public engagement and facilitate an expansion of age-appropriate QIS education for younger students. The partnership prioritizes development of high-quality QIS educational materials and increased learning and training opportunities for students and educators of all backgrounds.

Key takeaways from breakout discussions included:

  • Increasing Access to High-Quality QIS Educational Materials
  • Raising Awareness of QIS-Related Career Paths to Pre-College Students
  • Making QIS-Concepts More Accessible to a Broad, Non-Scientific Audience
  • Engaging with Teachers and Educators in Developing Educational Materials and Curricula

Please see the summary of the kick-off event for more details.

Quantum Workforce: Q-12 Actions for Community Growth Event

Summary of the Quantum Workforce: Q-12 Actions for Community Growth Meeting

On February 1, 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s National Quantum Coordination Office and the U.S. National Science Foundation – in coordination with the National Q-12 Education Partnership – convened over 200 stakeholders across academia, early education, industry, the federal government, and non-profit-organizations to explore training and education opportunities for America’s future Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) workforce. Furthering a national strategy to ensure the United States remains an international QIST leader, the event focused on ways to engage young minds in QIST and established tools to help improve outreach.

Key takeaways from breakout discussions included:

  • Increasing Awareness of Careers in QIST to Students, Teachers, Counselors, and Parents
  • Create Readily Accessible Quantum Educational Material
  • Development and Curation of Formal Educational Materials
  • Increase Engagement in and Awareness of Quantum Science
  • Developing Standards and Policies to Support Quantum Education at the primary and secondary K-12 Level
  • Expanding Paths into QIS and Addressing Retention

Please see the quantum.gov press release or the event summary for more details.