Technology grants to boost computer science in area schools
Eric Morris | Herald-Standard
PAsmart grants were recently awarded to school districts that currently have limited to no computer science offerings. In total, eight districts and one intermediate unit in the Herald-Standard coverage area will benefit from the grants to expand computer science and STEM opportunities for students.
Eric Morris | Herald-Standard
In this file photo, a Dunbar Township Elementary School student looks over the code on a Dash programmable robot. The school was one of several awarded funding recently by the state Department of Education to provide additional computer science and STEM education.
Eric Morris | Herald-Standard
Several area school districts recently received funding through the PAsmart grant initiative to expand computer science and STEM education offerings for students at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Eric Morris | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands Middle School will use a $35,000 PAsmart grant from the Department of Education to install an Apple lab in the school media center and implement Apple’s “Everyone Can Create” curriculum that emphasizes computer-based creativity projects in drawing, photography, video and music.
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Several area school districts are poised to expand computer science offerings for students to help them prepare for tech-oriented careers.
“Our major focus is to expand our computer science opportunities and boost participation at the middle school level that will hopefully lead to improved interest in computer science in high school,” said Dr. Jesse Wallace, superintendent of the Laurel Highlands School District.
Laurel Highlands is one local recipient of a $35,000 targeted grant for computer science and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. The district will use the funding to implement an Apple lab in its middle school media center and incorporate the tech giant’s “Everyone Can Create” curriculum that emphasizes computer-based creativity skills such as drawing, photography, video and music.
The grant will fund the purchase of 40 iPads for the lab.
Wallace said the grant provides Laurel Highlands the funding to offer computer science opportunities at the middle school level for the first time, bridging the gap between elementary computing programs, such as coding, robotics and augmented reality, and computer sciences courses offered at the high school level.
“Our goal is to provide computer science options as students go through to the high school level. Hopefully, this will spark some interest in moving on to next level once they get to high school and we see an increase our participation levels in computer science,” said Wallace.
The grants are part of Gov. Tom Wolf’s PAsmart workforce development initiative, which will provide $20 million to bring computer science and STEM education to elementary, middle and high schools to prepare students with skills they’ll need in the workforce.
“Over the next decade, seven in 10 new jobs in Pennsylvania will require workers to use computers and new technologies in a constantly changing economy,” Wolf said in a news release. “With these grants, more students will get the skills they need for emerging high-demand jobs.”
Uniontown Area School District plans to use its PAsmart grant to add coding to grades K-8, said Mary Wallace, education technology coordinator and instructional coach. The district currently offers coding in its high school computer science classes.
Wallace said they are still working out the details of how it will be taught.
“Computer science is adaptable to all subject areas, but it’s most conducive to math and science,” she said.
Jefferson-Morgan School District will incorporate Project Lead the Way in grades 2-5, said Superintendent Joseph Orr. Orr said the engineering program for students is already used in upper grades, and the district sees a benefit in teaching it to younger students.
“It’s fully engaging our kids,” he said. “It’s neat to see them work with this information.”
The targeted grants are provided to districts that currently have limited to no computer science offerings. In total, eight districts and one intermediate unit in the Herald-Standard coverage area will benefit from the grants. Other area districts awarded funding include:
n Central Greene School District: Waynesburg Central Elementary School
n Connellsville Area School District: Bullskin Elementary School, Dunbar Township Elementary School, Springfield Clifford N. Pritts Elementary School, West Crawford Elementary School
n Intermediate Unit 1: IU1 Educational Campus at Colonial, IU1 Educational Campus at Waynesburg
n Southmoreland School District: Southmoreland Primary Center, Southmoreland Elementary School, Southmoreland Middle School, Southmoreland High School
n West Greene School District: West Greene Elementary Center, West Green Junior-Senior High School
n Yough School District: H.W. Good Elementary School, Mendon Elementary School, West Newton Elementary School, Yough Intermediate Middle School, Yough Senior High School
The state Department of Education also recently awarded $9.6 million in PAsmart advancing grants to colleges and schools. Among those receiving funding are California University of Pennsylvania, which is receiving $172,116, and South Fayette Township School District, which will get $499,613.
Cal U plans to provide professional development workshops focused on computer science for area K-12 professionals.
South Fayette Township School District intends to operate a program called “STEAM Studio Model for Innovation: Building Robust Learning Ecologies and Pathways in Computer Science,” which is designed to expand access to high-quality computing education at eight partnering pilot districts, including Brownsville Area, Carmichaels Area, Charleroi Area and Jefferson-Morgan, as well as Beechwood Elementary, Manchester Academic Charter, Pittsburgh Allegheny K-5 and South Fayette Township in Allegheny County.
The program will develop a statewide online education platform for teaching introductory computer science and STEM education across grades K-8 and create introductory computer science and STEM education curricula, assessments and professional development.
Freelance writer Dawn Goodman contributed to this article.