STEM | News

Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education Expands Science Programs in California

• By Leila Meyer
• 10/03/13

The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) has expanded its science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs in California.

Six California high schools are adopting CIJE's engineering program, CIJE-Tech, and three Los Angeles-area schools are adopting the CIJE Excellence 2000 (E2K) middle and high school program in math and science this fall.

According to CIJE, the CIJE-Tech high school engineering program is a discovery-focused, interactive two-year program covering scientific and biomedical engineering.

According to information on CIJE's site, the goals of the CIJE-Tech program include:

• Preparing students for academic study in higher education, especially in engineering;
• Exposing students to a diverse range of scientific and technological knowledge areas;
• Developing the ability for abstract and interdisciplinary thinking;
• Developing leadership and teamwork skills; and
• Introducing students to STEM careers.

As part of the program, CIJE provides teacher training, ongoing teach mentoring, and science laboratory equipment and materials required for the program.

California schools that are adopting the CIJE-Tech program this fall are the New Community Jewish High School in West Hills, Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles, San Diego Jewish Academy in San Diego, Tarbut V' Torah Jewish Community Day School in Irvine, Valley Torah High Schools in Valley Village, and Yeshiva University of Los Angeles High Schools.

According to CIJE, the CIJE Excellence 2000 (E2K) program for middle and high school math and science is an enrichment program that includes stimulating research projects as well as math problems and puzzles that challenge students to reason, explore, calculate, and discover. The program is currently offered in 75 school around the country, and the California schools that are adopting the program this fall are Chabad Bais Chaya Mushka School in Los Angeles, Emek Hebrew Academy in Sherman Oaks, and Masoret Yehudit in Reseda.

The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education was founded in 2001 with the goal of enhancing and enriching the quality of Jewish education throughout the United States. The Center offers programs and technology, as well as teacher training and support, to help Jewish schools prepare their students for higher education and careers in STEM fields.

Further information about CIJE's programs can be found at thecije.org.