Hiawatha, Iowa (February 10, 2015)–Kirkwood’s Linn Regional Center has announced that it has received national certification for its Project Lead The Way (PLTW) program. PLTW, a nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programs, offers a rigorous world-class curriculum that allows students to apply what they are learning in math and science class to real-life activities, projects and problems. PLTW also prides itself on high-quality professional development of its teachers and an engaged network of business, community and university partners to give students the fullest experience.
The national PLTW recognition program distinguishes schools for successfully demonstrating a commitment to PLTW’s national standards. Additionally, certification as a PLTW school provides students with the opportunity to apply for college credit or receive college-level recognition at PLTW affiliate universities when they successfully complete select PLTW courses in high school.
In order to remain competitive in the global economy, America needs approximately 400,000 STEM college graduates annually, according to a National Business Roundtable report. Currently, the U.S. is graduating only 265,000 annually. PLTW is providing students with the skills, foundation and proven path to college and career success in STEM areas to increase the number of STEM graduates.
Mindy Thornton, Director of Kirkwood’s Linn Regional Center said, “Aligned with other programs at Linn Regional, our PLTW program draws more students to engineering, math and science and gets them thinking about college and their careers. We are extremely proud to be PLTW certified.”
“Kirkwood’s Linn Regional Center should be congratulated for demonstrating once again its commitment to PLTW’s quality standards,” said PLTW President and CEO Vince Bertram. “The real winners here, however, are the students. Students benefit from PLTW’s innovative, project-based curriculum that encourages creativity, problem solving and critical thinking and prepares students for the global economy.”
Allen Witt, PLTW instructor at Linn Regional added, “It’s the kind of hands-on experience that will engage more students in science, technology, engineering and math—fields that they might otherwise never have considered.”
For more information on Kirkwood’s Linn Regional Center, visit www.kirkwood.edu/linnregional.