Math and science are for everyone. But unfortunately, many students, and especially Black and Latino students, don’t receive that…
May 31, 2023 by Kristen Hengtgen, Ph.D. 
Math and science are for everyone. But unfortunately, many students, and especially Black and Latino students, don’t receive that message or the resources needed to make it a reality. Even early on, many students are told they are not a “math person,” or a “science person;” as such, Black and Latino students have long been denied access to advanced coursework, from elementary through high school. In particular, middle school students of color and students from low-income backgrounds are not being given equitable access to rigorous and empowering courses, including advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) courses, which set students on college-ready pathways.
In this brief, we explain the importance of giving middle schoolers access to STEM coursework as part of their social, emotional, and academic development, as well as give five recommendations to state leaders so that they can ensure that all middle school students have access to high-quality, rigorous, relevant math and science courses, and that all schools have equitable policies in place for enrolling more Black and Latino students in advanced coursework.
Middle school is a crucial time for students to develop career aspirations, and specifically, middle school students’ identification with STEM-related careers. More access to rigorous and advanced STEM coursework in middle school is essential to equip students with 21st century skills like creativity, critical thinking, and technology literacy, while preparing students to be future-ready for jobs that do not even exist yet. Access to advanced coursework and rigorous STEM experiences in middle school can also set students up for success by earning college credits in high school so they can graduate quicker and take on less student debt.
What’s more, Black and Latino students are successful in advanced coursework when they have the opportunity. Ed Trust’s 2022 report, Shut Out: Why Black and Latino Students are Under-Enrolled in AP STEM Courses, found, however, that Black and Latino students and students from low-income backgrounds are denied access to AP STEM opportunities such as AP Biology, AP Physics, and AP Chemistry, despite voicing interest in going to college and pursuing a career in a STEM field. The under-enrollment of Black and Latino students and students from low-income backgrounds in AP STEM courses is linked to resource inequities, educator bias, and racialized tracking, and all these issues begin before high school.
All middle school students should have access to high-quality, rigorous, relevant math and science courses, and all schools should have equitable policies in place for enrolling students in advanced coursework. To get more students in advanced courses, there is not just one barrier but many things at once. To address the entire system of learning and increase access to early opportunities for advanced coursework, states can take the following five actions:
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