K-8 PIPELINE TO DOD CAREERS
Abstract
Hillsborough County, which approximates the size of the state of Rhode Island, includes Tampa, a large urban city, and several outlying municipalities and communities. Hillsborough County is economically, ethnically, and linguistically diverse, with 27% of families speaking a language other than English. Serving the families in this region is Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS), the 7th largest school district in the nation. HCPS has 296 school sites and enrolls over 223,000 students. Currently, 59% of HCPS students are considered economically disadvantaged, as compared to the state average of 53.9%. There are 160 HCPS schools designated as Title I due to the large percentage of students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Eighty-eight percent of HCPS schools have at least one student who is classified as military-connected. Though HCPS offers a number of STEM educational opportunities, the district lacks an intentional connection between existing offerings and DoD STEM career pathways. Thus, the goal of HCPS’ K-8 Pipeline to DoD Careers project is to increase the number of students who are prepared for the 21st century DoD STEM workforce. This goal will be accomplished by focusing on three objectives: 1) enhancing the district’s capacity to offer innovative STEM programming related to DoD focus areas; 2) improving the educational opportunities for students in DoD STEM fields; and 3) encouraging students to more deeply engage in DoD STEM fields. The project is designed with the knowledge that to be most impactful, students should have opportunities for STEM learning in both formal and informal settings. Thus, the district’s project consists of two main components: development of a rigorous, engaging, in-school curriculum; and out-of-school time opportunities offered throughout the school year and each summer to augment the formal STEM offerings. Each component will encompass activities designed around core themes connected to the DoD science and technology priorities of cybersecurity, robotics, computer science and coding, and aerospace and rocketry. As a result of the project activities, HCPS expects a variety of short and long-term outcomes that will ultimately impact DoD capabilities and help achieve DoD’s STEM Mission to, “attract, inspire, and develop exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum to enrich the current and future DoD workforce to meet defense technological challenges.” To this end, HCPS anticipates the following short-term outcomes: increased district capacity to offer coordinated STEM education; increased student competency in STEM; increased student awareness of DoD STEM careers; and increased number of students interested in continuing STEM education in order to pursue DoD STEM careers. Additionally, the following long-term outcomes are expected: increased student readiness for advanced STEM coursework in middle/high school; increased student readiness for STEM higher education that will lead to DoD career; and the production of shareable guidance for other districts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2021
- Source ID
- HQ00342010044
Entities
People
- Larry Plank
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Washington Headquarters Services