Growing STEM BEST ® Community Invites New Partners

STEM BEST® Program model Ankeny Orbis spoke with school board members and administrators at the IASB Convention.

The STEM BEST® Program continues to demonstrate momentum through growth and impact of the program in school districts across Iowa. Of 63 total STEM BEST® Program awards, there are a total of 58 models involving 83 school districts and more than 5,000 students that formed more than 1,300 workplace partnerships from 2014 to 2019. Read more about Growing STEM BEST ® Community Invites New Partners

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Collaboration Between Schools and Businesses Grow

STEM BEST Program
Iowa’s STEM imperative continues to grow with the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council welcoming 13 new models to the STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) Program, which brings the total to 63 since the STEM BEST Progr

Summer Work-Based Learning Experience Turns into Job Opportunity for Students

STEM BEST Students at CurbTender
For nearly three years, Cedar Falls high school students have had the opportunity to participate in a STEM BEST model they call Cedar Falls Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) during the school year. With the support of a STEM BEST Program award from the STEM Council, a summer course was added to the curriculum. 
 
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Future Ready Iowa Regional Summits Announced

Future Ready Iowa

Registration opened earlier this month for nine Future Ready Iowa Regional Summits. The day-long events will offer the opportunity for education, business, economic development and community partners to collaborate and develop strategies for local workforce solutions. Read more about Future Ready Iowa Regional Summits Announced

2018 STEM BEST® Application Opens Early June

STEM BEST

Since 2014, 37 STEM BEST® models have been established across Iowa. These school+business partnerships create work-based learning experiences where students apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to gain real-world workplace exposure. Two of these models are highlighted below. Read more about 2018 STEM BEST® Application Opens Early June

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Executive Order Establishes Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning

Iowa Governor signed executive order number one

An Executive Order signed by Governor Kim Reynolds for the Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning will help expand student and business work-based learning opportunities. Read more about Executive Order Establishes Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning

Preparing Students for the Future

Waukee high school students

In an effort to help expand Iowa’s talent pipeline, initial models have been set in motion to help students identify skills and paths to pursue specific careers and gain necessary certifications and competencies for local employers. These models will helps students gain employable skills and recognize the opportunities that exist in their own backyard. Read more about Preparing Students for the Future

School + Business STEM Partnerships Reach 37

School leaders gather to discuss STEM BEST

What began as a hunt for innovative excellence that routed through Kansas City's CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) and Brooklyn, New York's P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) in 2013 has become a bona fide movement custom-fitted to Iowa: STEM BEST® (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers).  Read more about School + Business STEM Partnerships Reach 37

Iowa's First-Ever STEM Professional Development Palooza

Educators at Waukee Innovative Learning Center

They came from all four corners of the state, representing elementary, middle and high school as well as college and out-of-school learning. All shared a common curiosity: how to amplify STEM in their classrooms and communities. Read more about Iowa's First-Ever STEM Professional Development Palooza

STEM BEST: Fort Madison High School

Fort Madison high school students

"Our community partners were reinforcing the idea that students needed to learn in a way consistent with the current world of work," said Greg Smith, principal at Fort Madison High School. "They agreed with us that to be successful as adults, students needed to practice problem-solving in group settings. Read more about STEM BEST: Fort Madison High School

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