GOLDEN, Colo., July 29, 2014 – Colorado School of Mines and Denver Public Schools (DPS) have partnered to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs for students in K-12. DPS educators at eight high schools alongside Mines graduate students helped DPS students gain experience in a variety of STEM-related fields, as well as prepare for the challenges of college and a career.
DPS and Mines currently partner on STEM education at four other elementary and middle schools in the district, and this new initiative will complete the K-12 pipeline between the two organizations.
"We have known for a long time that positively impacting STEM education requires support throughout the entire K-12 pipeline,” said Barbara Moskal, professor of applied mathematics and statistics and director of the Colorado School of Mines Trefny Institute of Educational Innovation. “We now have this opportunity, at every level of K-12 learning, in collaboration with DPS. We anticipate great accomplishments for these kids.”
DPS recently received $7 million in federal Youth CareerConnect grant funds and $2.3 million in philanthropic funding to expand access to STEM education programming. Over the next two years, DPS will create new STEM programming at eight high schools that will focus on the following industries: engineering, health and medicine, digital careers, finance, information technology, energy and manufacturing.
The eight high schools that will gain expanded programs via the Youth CareerConnect grant are:
- Abraham Lincoln High School
- CEC Middle College
- East High School
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College
- George Washington High School
- West Career Academy
- High Tech Early College
- John F. Kennedy High School
“There is tremendous growth and expansion in STEM-focused careers, and we want to ensure our students have the education and experience to pursue careers in those fields if they choose,” said Susana Cordova, DPS chief schools officer. “We’re excited to launch this new partnership with Mines and look forward to the opportunities it will create for our students.”
The Youth CareerConnect grant will also expand programs that provide opportunities for students to participate in a paid internships or job-shadow opportunities. It will also help complete their capstone projects that demonstrates how they applied the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to their workplace-based learning experiences.
By 2018, DPS anticipates an increase in the number of students graduating high school and accepted to college and university programs with a STEM focus, including at the Colorado School of Mines.
About the Trefny Institute for Educational Innovation
The Trefny Institute is a catalyst for STEM educational research and improvement at all levels. The institute’s goal is to prepare, recruit and educate students who can assume scientific and engineering leadership positions in industry, government and academia. The institute supports Mines faculty in their teaching and research efforts, develops and extends outreach programs to students and teachers at schools within the Denver area, as well as provides distance learning opportunities for Colorado schools outside the Denver area.
Contact:
Karen Gilbert, Colorado School of Mines / 303-273-3541 / kgilbert@mines.edu
Kristy Armstrong, Denver Public Schools / 720-423-3627 / Kristy_armstrong@dpsk12.org