Partnerships for STEM
Exposure for Every
Student
Bill Hatch, M.A. J.D.
NCDPI CTE Equity, Civil Rights and
Special Populations Coordinator
NC
Nontraditional Careers
– An occupation or field of work,
including computer science,
technology, and other emerging
high skill occupations, and
– For which individuals from one
gender comprise less than 25
percent of the individuals
employed in the occupation or
field of work.
Two of Eight CTE Core Indicators
NC NT Enrollment Rates
29
28.5
28
27.5
27
26.5
26
25.5
25
24.5
200203
200304
200405
200506
200607
Source: 2007 NC CAR
NAPE Five Step Process
Career & Technical Education has technical occupations that are
related to:
 Science
 Technology
 Engineering
 Math
STEM occupations have education requirements
that range from
a high school diploma and on-the-job training to a PhD.
NC’s RttT STEM Objectives
• Provide new opportunities for
students in the lowest-achieving
schools and districts to attend
schools that will better support
their achievement and successful
graduation and lead them to
college and career readiness.
NC’s RttT STEM Objectives
To reduce a potentially crippling
workforce knowledge gap and to
prepare more students –
especially those who traditionally
have been underrepresented – for
STEM careers
Present and Future Job Market
A globally competitive, knowledgebased economy is a fact of life for
North Carolina’s high school
students – now and for the
foreseeable future – STEM skills
are critical drivers in that
economy.
Career Opportunities
Fields such as biotechnology,
software design, aeronautical
engineering, and others – will
require adaptability, creativity,
critical thinking, and technical
competence in STEM.
Career Opportunities
• Employment in these areas is
projected to grow 70 percent faster
than growth for other occupations.
• STEM graduates on average are
expected to enjoy better
employment prospects and higher
starting salaries than graduates in
non-STEM fields.
Nontraditional
Underrepresented (UR)
• African Americans account for
about 15 percent of the
population between ages 20
and 24, however, earn only
about 8 percent of science and
engineering degrees.
• The ratio is similar for
Hispanics.
National Science Foundation
P
R
O
J
E
C
T
S
Gaps and Perceptions
Engineering is Elementary
• http://www.mos.org/eie/
We hear that little kids can’t
engineer . We say they’re born
engineers - they naturally
want to solve problems - and
the current process tends to
educate it out of them.
Christine Cunningham, Engineering is Elementary
Inviting and
engaging to
students who are
“at risk” or
traditionally UR.
Rachel Freeman Elementary
2010 EOG
5th Grade
Reading 75% … 26%
Math 81% … 10%
Science 83% … 37%
http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/freeman/
Rachel Freeman Elementary
EOG 2010
4th Grade
Reading 62% … 11%
Math 69% … 2%
3rd Grade
Reading 53%
Math 73%
Rachel Freeman Elementary
• http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/freeman/
• http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=9
889513&nav=menu157_2
• http://www.changetheequation.org/featured
programs/teaching-children-thatengineering-is-elementary/
Looking for STEM curriculum
that provides pathway of feeder
schools from Elementary…
…to Middle…
…to High School…and beyond.
Positive Outcomes of
PLTW students who began sixth
grade at lower proficiency levels
in math, reading and science,
and with lower attendance
rates had greatly reduced those
gaps by the eighth grade.
~2009 Study by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• NCSU Engineering Department
and WISE as clearing house for
speakers
– NT or UR role models at Science
Fun Days, Career Fairs, Career
Nights, or Family STEM Nights
STEM Symposiums
Pre-K STEM Programs
Afterschool STEM Programs
Elementary Exploring
Career Decisions
Seek Out Partners/Explore Ideas
Challenges
&
Questions
Partnerships for STEM
Exposure for Every
Student
Bill Hatch, M.A. J.D.
NCDPI CTE Equity, Civil Rights and
Special Populations Coordinator