Clifton Park, NY – Project Lead The Way (PLTW) announced today that students at 72 schools in four states now have access to the nation's leading science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education program through grants totaling $1,996,740. Middle schools and high schools were able to apply for funds through PLTW’s STEM Implementation Fund (PSIF) which requires schools to prove their commitment to preparing students for the jobs of the 21st century. PLTW partners with leading U.S. industries, professional associations, private and family foundations, and other philanthropic organizations to provide funding to schools through the PSIF. Schools will begin offering PLTW’s STEM education courses, including Gateway To Technology and Pathway To Engineering, beginning in Fall 2011.
“The economic prosperity of our communities and our nation depend on our ability to prepare today’s students for the high-tech, high-skill jobs of the 21st century,” said Thor S. Misko, interim CEO of Project Lead The Way. “We are grateful for the generosity of our partners from the industry and the philanthropic community who’ve made this grant process possible. We were extremely pleased to receive so many quality grant applications from schools and look forward to partnering with them to prepare our nation’s next generation of innovators.”
PLTW provides students with a proven path to college and career success in STEM fields. The hands-on, project-based curriculum shows students how what they are learning in math and science class applies to real-world challenges. Each course emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork – all skills that are in-demand from U.S. businesses and necessary in the 21st century high-tech economy. Studies have shown that PLTW students outperform their peers and are more likely to continue studying STEM-related subjects in college.
Among other items, PSIF grant applicants are required to show that they have visited at least one additional PLTW school; submitted a complete PLTW program budget; coordinated and provided a list of potential community partners; and have or are in the process of developing a computer lab that meets PLTW requirements. Schools use grant funds for teacher training and equipment and supplies for PLTW courses.
Illinois There are currently 116 PLTW schools in Illinois. Twenty-four new schools will receive PSIF funds totaling $594,353 for the 2011-2012 school year. These schools are:
Abbott Middle School
Clarence C. Culver School
Eastview Middle School
Ellis Middle School
Farview South School
Fenton High School
Friendship Junior High School
Grove Junior High School
Hollis Grade School
Holmes Junior High School
Kenyon Woods Middle School
Kimball Middle School
Larsen Middle School
Lincoln Middle School
Lindop School
Metea Valley High School
Mt. Vernon Township High School
Neuqua Valley High School
New Trier High School
Oak Park & River Forest High School
Pleasant Plains Middle School
River Trails Middle School
Riverton Middle School
Waubonsie Valley High School
Iowa There are currently 143 PLTW schools in Iowa. Seven new schools will receive PSIF funds totaling $159,826 for the 2011-2012 school year. These schools are:
ADM Middle School
North Scott Community High School
Oskaloosa Middle School
Pella Middle School
Sibley-Ocheyedan Middle School
Washington Junior High School
Winterset Junior High School
Minnesota There are currently 185 PLTW schools in Minnesota. Fourteen new schools will receive PSIF funds totaling $577,958 for the 2011-2012 school year. These schools are:
Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative
Henry Sibley High School
Kimball Area High School
Kingsland Public Schools
La Crescent Montessori Academy
Lewiston-Altura High School
Menahga Public Schools
Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf
Minnetonka High School
Orono High School
Osakis High School
Royalton High School
Valley Middle School
Waconia High School & Clearwater Middle School
Wisconsin There are currently 244 PLTW schools in Wisconsin. Twenty-seven new schools will receive PSIF funds totaling $664,603 for the 2011-2012 school year. These schools are:
Beloit Turner Middle School
Bonduel Middle School
Darlington Elementary Middle School
Darlington High School
Edison Middle School
Evansville Middle and High Schools
Fox River Middle School
Franklin Middle School
Hortonville High School
Kennedy Middle School
Lancaster High School
Lancaster Middle School
Marshall Middle School
Medford High School
Parkview Middle and High Schools
Pulaski Community Middle School
Richland Center High School
Richland Middle School
Seeds of Health Elementary
Shattuck Middle School
Shullsburg High School
St. Alphonsus Catholic School
Wheatland Joint 1 Center School District
Winneconne High School
Winneconne Middle School
For more information on PLTW’s STEM education program, visit www.pltw.org.
About PLTW
Project Lead The Way, Inc., is a national, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is the leading provider of rigorous and innovative STEM education curricular programs used in K-12 schools. The PLTW comprehensive curriculum, which is collaboratively developed by PLTW teachers, university educators, engineering and biomedical professionals, and school administrators, emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving. The hands-on, project-based program engages students on multiple levels, exposes them to areas of study that they typically do not pursue, and provides them with a foundation and proven path to college and career success. PLTW began in 1997 in 12 high schools in upstate New York as a program designed to address the shortage of engineering students at the college level and has grown to a network of nearly 4,000 middle and high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 350,000 students are expected to take a PLTW course during the coming school year. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.
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