D.C. Public Schools Expands STEM Curriculum through Multi-Million Dollar Investment from Lockheed Martin

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- To address the nation's critical need for future engineers, computer scientists, and math- and science-trained professionals, and to equip all students with the skills critical for their future success, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) today announced a new multi-million dollar, multi-year grant to support the expansion of college and career-focused science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs for all DCPS schools. The STEM curriculum is offered through Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the nation's leading provider of K-12 STEM programs.  

DCPS is the first urban school district to expand STEM programming through Lockheed Martin's national agreement with PLTW. This school year, the investment supports new programming at seven middle schools, aligned to DCPS' targeted focus on supporting middle school students. Eighty additional elementary, middle, and high schools can choose to take advantage of the grant over the next two school years.

Lockheed Martin has committed $6 million to expand PLTW programs in select U.S. urban school districts. Funding through the Lockheed Martin grant will provide an opportunity for every DCPS school to implement a PLTW program. The grant covers the PLTW program participation fees, teacher professional development training, and classroom equipment and supplies. In addition, Lockheed Martin engineers will volunteer to support participating D.C. public schools by building relationships with students as role models and mentors. 

"This partnership gives our talented workforce the opportunity to interact one-on-one with students and share the excitement of STEM," said Stephanie C. Hill, vice president and general manager for Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions Civil business. "Through these interactions and the PLTW curriculum, we hope students appreciate that by pursuing STEM careers they can help our world overcome complex challenges and push the boundaries of scientific discovery."

Expanding student access to STEM education is an issue of national prosperity and security. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that, by 2018, STEM-related jobs in the U.S. will grow by 17 percent, nearly double the rate of jobs in non-STEM fields. There will be 1.2 million unfilled STEM jobs by 2018, due to a lack of qualified, trained workers. Expanding access to STEM education for underrepresented minority students is also of great interest; only 10 percent of U.S. scientists and engineers come from underrepresented minority groups.

"The partnership between Lockheed Martin and D.C. Public Schools, utilizing PLTW's programs, is a model for how public and private partnerships can help solve the education and workforce development challenges facing our nation," said PLTW Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer Dr. Rex Bolinger. "We are grateful for Lockheed Martin's leadership and the opportunities they are creating for students in Washington, D.C."

PLTW's programs in engineering, biomedical science, and computer science are currently being used by over 6,500 schools across the country. Through hands-on, activity-, project- and problem-based curricula, PLTW helps students develop the knowledge and critical skills that they need to be successful in the global economy. In addition to world-class curricula, PLTW also provides high-quality, rigorous professional development to each teacher who instructs a PLTW course.

About Project Lead The Way:

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the nation's leading provider of K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. PLTW's world-class, activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, help students develop the skills needed to succeed in the global economy. More than 6,500 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and D.C. currently offer PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.

About Lockheed Martin:

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

SOURCE Project Lead The Way