Lancaster ISD Receives 2.2 Million STEM Grant
Educate Texas, a public-private
initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, has received a $2.2 million
grant from the Texas Instruments (IT)
Foundation to further the development of a science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) district in Lancaster
Independent School District (LISD).
This is the second grant the TI Foundation has awarded to Educate Texas to
develop the "STEM District." Educate Texas received the first grant of $4.8
million in 2012. Since that time, the TI Foundation, Educate Texas and LISD
have collaborated to implement the core elements of the initiative. This new
grant builds on that work and will include professional development and
curriculum changes.
LISD's plan for the development of the STEM District was to implement proven
best practices from across the state's STEM network of schools with the goal of
improving student achievement and increasing student awareness of STEM college
and career pathways. Core elements of the original plan included "a strong STEM
foundation of college-ready teaching and learning, strategic partnerships and
community outreach and a plan for sustaining this work," according to
information from Texas Instruments.
Upcoming developments in LISD's STEM District plans include:
- Providing targeted professional development for teachers, leaders and
counselors;
- Enhancing college and career readiness initiatives for students;
- Aligning math curriculum to college and career standards;
- Developing elementary STEM engineering courses;
- Aligning dual credit and Advanced Placement (AP) courses to college and
career standards;
- Expanding summer bridge programs; and
- Engaging more students in STEM extracurricular activities and STEM
camps.
Ty G. Jones, president of the LISD school board said he hopes the grant will make
the district a leader in "offering students opportunities to engage in STEM
activities, being a model for improving student performance, and generating new
ideas for student success."
About the Author
Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].