LYNN — The KIPP Academy Lynn middle school has received a $15,000 grant to implement a new seventh-grade engineering curriculum that aims to prepare students with the necessary skills to advance their studies in the field.
The funds come both from the Baker-Polito administration and the One8 Foundation, a group that actively promotes the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum in schools.
“Science has become more and more important in the past few years,” said Torie Maher, development director for KIPP Massachusetts. “We are focused on college and career, and we feel STEM is really important for our students.”
KIPP was among the schools last October that actively participated in a citywide STEM fair, serving as one of the four host schools.
Maher said science isn’t something that one learns merely in a classroom or a lab.
“It’s something that happens everywhere,” she said. “We want kids to understand that STEM is for everyone, especially for people who aren’t historically represented in the science field. We want all people to have the opportunity.”
KIPP Lynn and KIPP Boston are the recipients of the grant money to offer a program from Project Lead The Way, a non-profit group that provides education through pathways in computer science, engineering and biomedical science.
Students at KIPP, as the result of the grants, will have access to a curriculum called “Automation and Robotics.”
“Our organization strives to give students the opportunity to lead choice-filled lives,” said Jay Galbraith, Secondary Science Achievement Leader at KIPP Massachusetts. “This includes access to the engineering and technology careers that continue to grow in demand.
“By adding Automation and Robotics to our K-12 engineering program, we are providing yet another opportunity for our kids to engage with problem-solving using computational thinking and creativity.”
The Lynn and Boston KIPP schools are among 82 across the Commonwealth to receive the grant.
“Our administration is committed to closing the opportunity and achievement gaps in STEM fields for students across the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, who provided support for last October’s STEM Fair sponsored by the Lynn Education District. “Partnerships with organizations like Project Lead the Way allow us to provide children with opportunities to learn hands-on, real-world STEM skills. Funds from the grant will also support teacher professional development and the purchase of materials and equipment that will be used in the hands-on applied learning courses.”
KIPP Massachusetts is part of a non-profit network of college preparatory, public charter schools educating elementary, middle, and high school students. KIPP MA operates five public charter schools across Boston and Lynn, serving more than 2,000 students in grades K-12.
There are 242 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia educating more than 100,000 students.
Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].
