A broad-based group of educators, parents, public policy experts, corporate leaders and civic leaders, the Washington DC Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Partnership is working to promote and enhance the effectiveness of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in the District of Columbia Public Schools system in pre-kindergarten through post secondary settings.
The WDC STEM Partnership’s vision is to ensure the District of Columbia is recognized nationally as a Center of Excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. Such recognition is based on demonstrated innovation, performance, and research-based best practices across the educational continuum and capacity for ensuring readiness of graduates to compete successfully in the global marketplace.
Strategic Focus
- Support Anne Beers Elementary School’s NASA Explorer School program and initiate the principles
of the Explorer Schools program in East Washington schools.
- Create a sustainable model of high quality STEM education at a cluster of District of Columbia
Public Schools in East Washington.
- Ensure support for the District of Columbia Public School systems’ efforts to expand STEM
education in public, public charter, and private schools.
Goals
- Promote implementation of a standards-based curriculum that incorporates interactive tools and resource materials in instructional offerings.
- Create and maintain learning opportunities and environments for students, teachers, parents, and the
general public.
- Monitor and improve student and faculty performance in STEM.
- Expand and strengthen linkages with institutions of higher education that foster innovation and
readiness for global competition.
Strategies
- Provide effective and sustained leadership in setting and meeting STEM content and assessment
standards in pre-kindergarten to post secondary education levels.
- Serve as the District of Columbia’s coordinating body for long-term, continuous improvements in
STEM instruction in the DC educational system.
- Facilitate implementation of strategies and action steps that enhance STEM program alignment
throughout the educational continuum.
- Ensure system accountability by assessing performance measures and conducting and reporting on
STEM studies.
- Facilitate the design and use of state-of-the-art interactive instructional materials.
- Promote equitable learning opportunities through policy recommendations and proposals.
- Inform and engage the general public of program and policy outcomes through special events,
forums, print materials, and Internet-based information.
- Inform and engage pre-kindergarten to higher education institutions in strategic partnerships and
special initiatives.
- Support quality initiatives by evaluation and dissemination of best practices techniques.
