Marshalltown High School is the recipient of a $35,000 grant from Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading provider of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum.
Funds from the grant will support the implementation of the PLTW engineering curriculum, including the purchase of materials and equipment that will be used in the hands-on, project-based classes that are a distinguishing characteristic of PLTW’s curriculum.
“The rigorous and hands-on academic programming in pre-engineering will afford our students a competitive edge that they need in the future,” said MHS Principal Aiddy Phomvisay.
MHS will use 2012-2013 as a planning year before launching the Pathway To Engineering curriculum, which “explores the design process and links STEM principles to relevant problem-solving activities.” Foundation courses will be Introduction to Design and Principles of Engineering.
The PLTW grant application process is highly competitive for schools. To receive a grant, schools went through a rigorous application process, which included demonstrating that the school met specific requirements and eligibility criteria to be awarded grant funds. The requirements included district and community support, contractual agreements, teacher professional development, technology acquisitions, and many others.
“Project Lead The Way is committed to providing the highest quality STEM education to prepare today’s students for the global economy,” said PLTW President and CEO Vince Bertram. “We were pleased to receive so many quality grant applications, and we look forward to partnering with MHS to prepare our nation’s next generation of innovators. Finally, we’d like to thank our generous industry partners who made this grant possible.”
PLTW provides students with a proven path to college and career success in STEM fields through three comprehensive programs: Gateway To Technology for middle school students and Pathway To Engineering and Biomedical Sciences for high school students. The hands-on, project-based curricula show 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 – the top in-demand skills identified by business and industry leaders for success in the global economy. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org or contact Jennifer Cahill, PLTW director of communications, at jcahill@pltw.org.
