Pa. Education Department announces $5.7M for STEM
State Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera on Friday announced $5.7 million in grants that aim to expand computer science classes and teacher training at 163 school districts, charter schools and intermediate units, many in the Pittsburgh region.
Mr. Rivera made the announcement while speaking to a group of educators and education stakeholders at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s annual STEAM Showcase at Nova Place on the North Side.
The PAsmart grants seek to grow computer and technology skills in students that can eventually lead to jobs. Over the next 10 years, according to Gov. Tom Wolf’s office, 71% of new jobs in the state will require employees to use computers and new technologies.
“We want to educate [students] here in Pennsylvania and have them stay and work in Pennsylvania,” Mr. Rivera said.
Each grant recipient will receive $35,000 that will be used to help schools introduce and expand computer science programming for students and provide preK-12 educators with training to teach those subjects.
The grants are part of the governor’s PAsmart initiative, which will provide $20 million to bring computer science and STEM education to elementary, middle and high schools, as well as professional development for teachers.
More than 1,100 teachers received training to teach STEM and computer science through the 2018-19 grants.
The governor’s office said that the new grant awardees have prioritized increasing access to computer science for underrepresented students, including students of color, girls, low-income students and students in rural communities.
“PAsmart is strategically investing in science and technology education so students develop the skills they need for high-demand jobs,” Mr. Wolf said in a statement. “To be successful, we must also invest in our educators by providing them the training to teach these critical subjects.
“Through PAsmart, we are developing the most prepared and talented workforce in the country, which will help students excel, grow the middle class, and strengthen the economy for everyone.”
Some of the local entities that received grants include the Pittsburgh Public Schools, numerous districts in Allegheny and surrounding counties, Penn Hills
Charter School of Entrepreneurship, and Connellsville Area Career & Technical Center.
Mr. Rivera said Mr. Wolf identified the Pittsburgh region as important for investment in STEM education because it’s where schools, universities and community partners collaborate to serve the community holistically.
“The work being done here in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County is a great example of how partners come together and build a system of support for all of their communities,” he said. “When you think about where you want to invest a great deal of funds — where are you going to receive some of the greatest return on investment — Pittsburgh and Allegheny County has become one of those areas.”
The showcase, attended by about 1,000 teachers, administrators and school board members from more than 30 school districts and 25 partner organizations, included displays from the AIU’s 23 STEAM Catalyst grantees and community partners.
The AIU’s Catalyst grants are separate from the PAsmart initiative and receive funding from several foundations. In the past 10 years, the AIU has awarded 233 grants worth more than $3.7 million.
Students who were the beneficiaries of grants said the projects they were able to work on in school made them more enthusiastic about science.
“I used to be wanting to just get out of school,” said Brandon Navilliat, a West Mifflin Area High School student who worked with classmate Sam Franco on a materials science project using different metals. “And now I actually come to class every day, want to work more and learn about materials science.”