Lapeer Community Schools is proud to announce that it is the recipient of a $35,000 grant from Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program. The grant was made possible by a generous donation from General Motors and is facilitated by the National Project Lead the Way organization. Funds from the grant will support the implementation of the PLTW Engineering curriculum, including the purchase of materials and equipment that will be used in the hands-on, activity-, project-, and problem-based courses that are a distinguishing characteristic of PLTW’s curriculum.

“We are thrilled to have been selected for this generous award,” said LCS Superintendent Matt Wandrie. “PLTW is a big part of our district’s vision for the future, one that promises our students opportunities never before offered. PLTW is just another reason to give LCS a fresh look in 2014.”

Beginning this fall, LCS will offer PLTW’s Engineering  program, a program in which students engage in open-ended problem solving, learn and apply the engineering design process, and build strong teamwork, communication, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills. Throughout the Engineering courses, students use the same industry-leading technology and software as the world’s top companies. In many cases, students have the opportunity to earn college credit, further setting them up for postsecondary and career success.

The PLTW grant application process is highly competitive for schools.  To receive a grant, schools go through a rigorous application process, which includes demonstrating that the school meets specific requirements and eligibility criteria to be awarded grant funds.  The requirements include district and community support, teacher professional development, technology acquisitions, a program sustainability plan, and many other factors.

“Project Lead The Way is committed to providing the highest quality STEM education to prepare today’s students for the global economy,” said PLTW President and CEO Vince Bertram. “We were pleased to receive so many quality grant applications, and we look forward to partnering with Lapeer Community Schools 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 inspires and engages students in STEM learning through four programs which span from kindergarten through twelfth grade: PLTW Launch, designed for students in grades K-5; Gateway for middle school students; and Engineering and Biomedical Science for high school students. Each program emphasizes the integration of core math and science topics with skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and teamwork – the top in-demand skills identified by business and industry leaders for success in the global economy.

For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.

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About PLTW
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs. PLTW’s world-class, activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, help students develop the skills needed to succeed in our global economy. Approximately 5,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently offering PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.