BEDFORD – United Way of South Central Indiana received a grant from the GM Foundation to create and implement dedicated STEM classrooms in two elementary schools, Lincoln Elementary and Parkview Elementary, in the North Lawrence Community School (NLCS) District.
UWSCI partnered with North Lawrence Community Schools in 2020 to implement STEM education, with hands-on lessons in science, technology, engineering, and math in an interdisciplinary approach. Early STEM learning establishes a strong foundation of skills in science, math, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
UWSCI donated $50,000 and $25,000 yearly afterward with the plans to expand to other pre-schools in Lawrence and Orange counties.
The funding awarded from this grant is for STEM Makerspaces for STEM education for grades K-6, and STEM training for teachers to implement this program. Makerspaces learning helps students build hands-on STEM skills, in addition to books and classroom instruction.
The hands-on approach to STEM education is helping educators foster a deeper passion in children for science, technology, and mathematics.
United Way of South Central Indiana is dedicated to creating “A” schools in Lawrence and Orange Counties with the addition of STEM learning. Their goal is to provide STEM education to all of the elementary schools in both Lawrence and Orange counties.
With income above the Federal Poverty Level but below a basic survival threshold; aka the ALICE Threshold; ALICE® stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
In Lawrence County IN, 42 percent of all households live in ALICE and poverty conditions.
According to the United Way ALICE report, “A quality education is still one of the best predictors of professional and financial success in the U.S., and one of the few ways ALICE families can get ahead. The overall plan is to provide STEM education to children in grades K-6 to increase their opportunities for future employment.
