Shakopee High School Receives Thousands to Sustain STEM Curriculum

announced today that it is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum.

This grant was made possible by a generous donation from the Bemis Company, Inc. Funds from the grant will support the school’s PLTW engineering program, including continued teacher professional development and the purchase of materials and equipment for the hands-on, project-based classes that are a distinguishing characteristic of PLTW’s curriculum.

Shakopee High School has been offering PLTW’s Pathway To Engineering (PTE) curriculum since 2006. In PTE classes, students immerse themselves in the concepts of engineering, learn and apply the design process, and build strong teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Through the hands-on, project-based classroom learning, students learn how to apply the skills they’ve learned in math and science to real-world applications, setting them up for postsecondary and career success. In many cases, students have the opportunity to earn college credit through their PLTW courses.

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 Vince Bertram, PLTW president and CEO. “We were pleased to receive so many quality grant applications, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Shakopee High School 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.