Contact: Scott Holste, (573) 751-0290
Channing Ansley, (573) 751-0290
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 3, 2015
Gov. Nixon discusses Project Lead the Way and the importance of STEM education during a visit to Oak Ridge Intermediate School in Camdenton
Governor’s budget proposal expands innovative program to 350 schools to provide more students with hands-on learning experiences in STEM fields
CAMDENTON, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today visited Oak Ridge Intermediate School in the Camdenton School District to discuss the school’s Project Lead the Way program, an initiative the Governor highlighted in his State of the State Address last month. Project Lead the Way is a rigorous, project-based program that provides hands-on learning experiences for students in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
“The key to unlocking high-paying job opportunities later in life, is getting kids interested in science, technology, engineering and math at an early age,” Gov. Nixon said. “Project Lead the Way gives students the opportunity to see and experience the real-world applications of STEM fields, in an engaging way. It’s a very effective learning tool that we would like to see in more schools across the state.”
Oak Ridge Intermediate School in the Camdenton School District is one of only a few schools in the state to offer Project Lead the Way at the elementary level. The Governor has included funding in his Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal to expand Project Lead the Way to an additional 350 elementary schools throughout the state.
“Project Lead the Way has helped our district provide our students with learning opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math” said Dr. Tim Hadfiel, Camdenton R-III Superintendent. “We are working to prepare our students for jobs which do not even exist yet, but we must give them the tools to meet this challenge. Project Lead the Way assists us in preparing our students for the future.”
“At the high school level, Missouri leads the nation for having Project Lead the Way computer science programs. But only a few dozen elementary schools in our state are using Project Lead the Way at the elementary level,” Gov. Nixon said. “To reach students at a younger age, my budget proposal includes $2 million to expand Project Lead the Way tenfold across the state, opening this opportunity to 350 additional schools throughout Missouri.”
In addition to the $2 million challenge grants for Project Lead the Way, Gov. Nixon’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget and legislative proposals also include continued record funding for K-12 education, with an additional $150 million for Missouri’s public schools.
Through Project Lead the way, Missouri offers 351 programs to 319 participating schools, ranking 10th in the country in number of programs. Missouri’s rate of growth in the program ranks behind only California and Texas. Missouri leads the country in PLTW computer science programs and is second behind California in new elementary school programs. Missouri also houses the third most biomedical science programs of any state. Project Lead the Way began in Missouri in 2002 with just one school participating.
To learn more about the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal, please visit MO.gov
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Scott Holste
Press Secretary for Missouri Governor Jay Nixon
573-751-0290
