Business leaders in North Carolina cannot find the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent they need to stay competitive. Students' lagging performance in K-12 is a critical reason why. The good news is that the nation's most effective STEM education programs can help turn the tide. North Carolina students have made some progress in math over the past decade. Yet not enough students have the chance to learn rich and challenging content to prepare them for college and careers. The state faces challenges in science. Students in the state spent little time on elementary science, and science teachers say they don't have the resources they need.