Siemens Expands STEM Middle-Skill Initiative
The Siemens Foundation has added two new partners to its STEM Middle-Skill Initiative, which aims to support the development of middle school students' skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
The two new partners are:
- The Center to Advance CTE,
an affiliate organization of Advance CTE, a national non-profit
organization representing state directors and leaders of secondary,
postsecondary and adult career and technical education (CTE) across the
United States; and
- The Center on Education and Skills at New America (CESNA), an organization working to expand the array of high quality educational options for students of all ages.
The
Center to Advance CTE will work with four participating states to
attract students to high quality career and technical education (CTE)
programs. According to Kimberly Green, executive director of Advance
CTE, many people hold outdated stereotypes that may "prevent more
students from benefiting from these programs."
Advance CTE will
work with state and local leaders to identify effective messaging "that
resonates with students and parents" and will support states "as they
identify, implement and evaluate strategies for student recruitment
into high-quality programs that lead to college and career success,"
stated a news release. The Siemens Foundation will announce the four
participating states in early 2017.
Countries such as Germany and
Switzerland have long-established practices of apprenticeships for high
school students. The Center on Education and Skills at New America will
study high school apprenticeship programs abroad to identify best
practices that could be adapted for the United States. "Understanding
the barriers — both real and perceived — to growing youth
apprenticeship in the U.S. is an essential first step for building an
evidence-based strategy that can effectively overcome those barriers,"
said Mary Alice McCarthy, director of the Center on Education and
Skills, in a prepared statement. The center expects to complete its
research in 2017.
The Siemens Foundation established its STEM
Middle-Skill Initiative in October 2015. The initiative's first two
partners were the Siemens Technical Scholars program and the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence with the Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].