The AICPA has expressed support for the newly introduced Accounting STEM Pursuit Act, which would establish the accounting profession as a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) career pathway, allowing students greater access to accounting programs.
The bill, introduced Thursday, Feb. 5, by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., also would amend the Every Student Succeeds Act to allow K-12 grant funding to be used for accounting education programs.
“Accounting today sits at the intersection of data, technology, and critical thinking — and that’s exactly what STEM is all about,” Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, president and CEO of the AICPA, said in a news release. “Recognizing accounting as a STEM pathway will help schools introduce these skills earlier, expand access for students in every community, and build a stronger pipeline of future CPAs and finance leaders.”
The Accounting STEM Pursuit Act would add accounting education to the list of allowable uses under the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant program, a key funding stream for states to expand educational opportunities in public schools. Learn more.