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Students from Team Phoenix press lawmakers to expand high‑school STEM courses in New Hampshire
Summary
House Resolution 9, urging stronger emphasis on STEM curricula statewide, drew testimony from Team Phoenix and Academy for Science and Design students who described robotics, programming and engineering opportunities and linked expanded STEM access to workforce and retention goals.
Representative Wendy Thomas introduced House Resolution 9 urging the Department of Education to emphasize STEM education in public high schools, including courses in robotics, advanced programming, engineering and higher‑level mathematics.
Multiple student speakers from Team Phoenix and the Academy for Science and Design testified in favor. Brunette Grover told the committee that the state will need to “fill nearly 54,000 STEM jobs by 2028” and called expanded access critical to New Hampshire’s workforce pipeline. Several other students described hands‑on robotics experience and the effect of early exposure to engineering and programming. One student said, “STEM gave these students an opportunity… that sparked their curiosity and their drive to learn.”
Supporters argued that increased offerings in robotics, coding and engineering would reduce the outflow of young workers to other states by providing local career pathways and by aligning K‑12 preparation with NSF and other grant investments. Students and sponsors described existing grant programs and state‑funded pilots — including an NSF award and robotics grant funding in prior budgets — and asked the Department of Education to develop a coordinated strategy to expand course options statewide.
No objections were raised during the hearing on principle, although Representative Thomas asked committee members to distinguish online testimony related to other bills that had been filed. The committee did not take immediate action on the resolution.
