On April 28, I had the good fortune of attending the Illinois STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education Reform update meeting entitled “Building Illinois STEM Pathways to College and Career Readiness.” The event was co-sponsored by the Illinois Business Roundtable and the State of Illinois and was held at the Museum of Science and Industry. The meeting provided the 200-plus attendees with an extensive update on the state’s STEM related work. I did not know exactly what to expect going in, but I must admit that I came away impressed with what I observed and filled with hope that the state is serious about making progress in this critical area of education.