Project Lead the Way
 | |
| Abbreviation | PLTW |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1997 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization |
| Headquarters | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Website | www.pltw.org |
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a United States 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that develops STEM curricula for use by elementary, middle, and high schools. PLTW also provides professional development training for instructors.
Description
PLTW's mission is to prepare students for the global economy by providing K-12 STEM programs to public, private, and charter schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in rural, urban, and suburban districts. They offer a problem-based curriculum combined with a teacher professional development.
Leadership
Vince Bertram is the current CEO and President of Project Lead The Way.
Payment and Distribution
Schools that register with PLTW pay a flat participation fee that includes the curriculum, all required course software, access to school and technical support, and access to PLTW's learning management system.[1] Teachers who instruct the Project Lead The Way curriculum are required to take part in PLTW's three-phase professional development program.[2]
Financial Support for PLTW
Governments of several states, including New York, Indiana, Iowa, and South Carolina, have provided funding to PLTW to support future development.[3]
The Kern Family Foundation of Wisconsin provides financial support for the program in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. Kern first became involved with PLTW in Wisconsin in 2004 as one of several programs it funds in an attempt to enhance U.S. economic competitiveness by trying to qualify more students for engineering and technology careers.[3][4] The foundation's expenditures in support of the funding of PLTW total more than $23 million.[4] Other foundations funding PLTW include the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the Conrad Foundation.[5]
References
- ↑ "PLTW Program Enhancements FAQs" (PDF). Project Lead The Way. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-03.
- ↑ "Who We Are". Project Lead the Way. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 John Schmid (July 8, 2007). "Innovator fears U.S. losing edge; Generac Power founder Kern aims to revive nation's engineering education". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Project Lead the Way". Kern Family Foundation. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ↑ "Getting Started 2012-13" (PDF). Project Lead the Way. 2012.