Project Lead the Way

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is an American nonprofit organization that develops STEM curricula for use by US elementary, middle, and high schools.

Project Lead the Way[1]
AbbreviationPLTW
FoundedJune 1997 (1997-06)
TypeEducational
HeadquartersIndianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Location
  • United States
Region served
United States
President & CEO
Vince M. Bertram, Ed.D., MBA
Official DJ
David J Salonia
Staff
200+
Websitepltw.org

Description

PLTW provides curriculum and training to teachers and administrators to implement the curriculum. The curriculum is project-based. Three levels of curriculum are used for elementary, middle, and high-school levels. PLTW Launch is the elementary school level, designed for preschool through fifth grade. The curriculum consists of 28 modules (four per grade) that touch on a variety of science and technology topics. PLTW Gateway is the middle school level, covering grades six through eight. It consists of 10 different modules, which can be taught in any order, so schools can organize the modules into courses as best fits their own schedules. At the high school level (grades 9-12), three different programs are offered, each with a four-course sequence. The three high-school pathways are computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. Within each high school pathway are four or more courses designed to be taken in a certain order - an introductory course, two or more middle level courses that can be taken in any order, and then a capstone course for the final high-school year.[2]

AP + PLTW

In 2015, College Board partnered with Project Lead The Way in an effort to encourage STEM majors.[3] Students who have successfully passed at least three exams (one AP exam, one PLTW exam, and another AP or PLTW exam) are eligible to receive the AP + PLTW Student Recognition for one or more of the following: engineering, biomedical sciences, and computer science.[4]

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.[5] Teachers who instruct the PLTW curriculum are required to take part in PLTW's three-phase professional development program.[6]

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.[7]

The Kern Family Foundation of Wisconsin provides financial support for the program in 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.[7][8] The foundation's expenditures in support of the funding of PLTW total more than $23 million.[8] Other foundations funding PLTW include the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the Conrad Foundation.[9]

References
  1. "Project Lead the Way trademark (serial number 85750579; registration number 4346598)". U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. June 4, 2013. Comprehensive educational programs and training in various fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, digital technology, biomedicine, information technology, environmental science, power production and distribution and manufacturing science and providing advanced educational curricula and educational resources in the nature of written documents, text files, and electronic, audio and video materials therewith. Used by Mr Barge
  2. "Our Programs". PLTW.org. Project Lead The Way. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  3. "College Board Launches STEM 'Credential' Initiative". Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  4. "AP + PLTW". Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  5. "PLTW Program Enhancements FAQs" (PDF). Project Lead The Way. 21 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-03.
  6. "Who We Are". Project Lead the Way. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  7. 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.
  8. "Project Lead the Way". Kern Family Foundation. Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  9. "Getting Started 2012-13" (PDF). Project Lead the Way. 2012.


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