Clark County School District

STEM Education Initiatives

Senate Education Committee

March 6, 2013

2

Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Goals:

• Expand the number of students who ultimately

pursue advanced degrees and careers in STEM fields

and broaden the participation of women and

minorities in STEM fields.

• Expand the STEM-capable workforce and broaden

the participation of women and minorities that

workforce.

• Increase STEM-literacy for all students, including

those who do not pursue STEM-related careers or

additional study in the STEM disciplines.

-National Research Council; Copyright 2011

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Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

“It is a challenge to identify the schools and

programs that are most successful in the STEM

disciplines because success is defined in many

ways and can occur in many different types of

schools and settings, with many different

populations of students.”

-National Research Council; Copyright 2011 N 3

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Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Key Elements of Successful K-12 STEM Education

• Provide access to quality learning

opportunities.

• Hire educators with high capacity to teach in

their disciplines.

• Ensure that there are supportive policies and

funding initiatives in place.

-National Research Council; Copyright 2011

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Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Districts should ensure that:

• STEM curricula are focused on the most

important topics in each discipline.

• STEM curricula is rigorous.

• STEM curricula is articulated as a sequence of

topics and performances.

-National Research Council; Copyright 2011

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Monitoring Progress Toward

Successful K-12 STEM Education: A

Nation Advancing?

Recommendations for Improving K-12 STEM

Education:

• Develop multiple models of STEM-focused schools.

• Provide adequate instructional time and resources for

science in grades K-5.

• Ensure access to high-quality curricula.

• Enhance capacity of K-12 teachers by ensuring that

they are prepared for the demands of STEM teaching.

• Provide quality professional development for

instruction leaders that support STEM learning.

- National Research Council; Copyright 2012

-

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CCSD STEM Schools and Programs

Please refer to handout:

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

STEM SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS

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Investing In Innovation (i3) Pathways to STEM

Initiative (handout – page 8)

• CCSD was awarded a $2.9 million Investing In

Innovations (i3) Grant by the U.S. Department of

Education.

• CCSD is one of only 20 awardees across the nation, and

one of only two school districts.

• The Pathways to STEM Initiative will provide middle and

high school students with access to rigorous and

engaging project-based STEM curriculum provided by

Project Lead The Way.

• Extra-curricular opportunities will be developed for

students to explore STEM concepts and real-world

applications alongside STEM professionals.

• STEM teachers will receive extensive professional

development.

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CCSD STEM Collaboration

• Curriculum and Professional Development

Division

Career and Technical Education Department

Mathematics and Instructional Technology

Department

Science Department

• School-Community Partnership Program

Connects STEM businesses and community partners

with schools

• English Language Learners Program

• Student Support Services Division

Grants Administrative and Development Department

Special Education

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Next Generation Science Standards Transitioning to the Next Generation of Science Education

(handout)

Science and

Engineering

Practices

Disciplinary Core

Ideas

Crosscutting

Concepts

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Next Generation Science Standards

(NGSS)

•Reflect the real world interconnections in science.

•Concepts build coherently across K–12.

•NGSS focus on deeper understanding and application of content.

•Science and engineering are integrated in science education from K–12.

•Science standards coordinate with English Language Arts and Mathematics Common Core State Standards.

-National Research Council; Copyright 2011

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NGSS and the Connection to STEM

Education

•Provide the basis for a rigorous science curriculum for every student at every school.

•Develop 21st-century skills (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation) that apply to all careers as well as everyday life.

•Prepare every student for the workplace and ensure he/she is globally competitive.

-National Research Council; Copyright 2011

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NGSS and the Connection to STEM

Education

•Support the creation of science, technology. and engineering jobs in the economy through the preparation of a scientifically literate workforce.

•Equip all students for living in a society that demands an increasing level of science, mathematics, and technology literacy.

-National Research Council; Copyright 2011

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Clark County School District

STEM Education Initiatives

Thank you!

Senate Education Committee

March 6, 2013

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