Washington STEM, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to improving education in science, technology, engineering and math, announced more than $1.2 million in new investments today, ranging from simple kits that help young children build STEM skills at home to an ambitious plan to spread a proven strategy for improving math and science instruction for disadvantaged students.
The latest round of investments from Washington STEM are divided into two types: small entrepreneur awards designed to let teachers, schools and districts try new ideas for improving STEM education; and larger portfolio awards aimed at spreading proven strategies across the state.
“We’re supporting innovative educators and researchers as they develop new techniques for teaching science, technology, engineering and math,” said Patrick D’Amelio, CEO of Washington STEM. “And we’re taking the very best of those STEM practices and positioning them to scale up so all kids can benefit.”
For example, one of the smaller investments will help central Washington teachers create simple interactive kits that families can use to boost young kids’ knowledge through easily-followed, hands-on learning experiences. Initially the kits will be distributed to families in the Yakama Nation and the Colville Federated Tribes, but the long-term goal is to prepare students from other high-need populations to enter kindergarten ready to thrive.
With larger investments, Washington STEM is enhancing proven projects such as Developing Networked Improvement Communities for High Quality Mathematics and Science Teaching, a University of Washington project that has helped rapidly transform low-performing schools into places where students achieve, despite poverty and language barriers. The designers of this project will use $460,000 to improve and expand the program so it can be implemented in many places.
To date, Washington STEM has invested $4.1 million across the state, impacting over 24,000 students and 800 teachers. To see a full list of Washington STEM investments, visit https://washingtonstem.org/investments.asp.
