Rosa Parks Elementary School (RPE) has been recognized as a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for providing broad access to transformative learning opportunities for students through PLTW Launch. RPE is one of two schools within the Indianapolis area to receive the recognition and one of 404 elementary schools across the U.S. to receive this honor.
The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, RPE had to offer at least two PLTW Launch modules at each grade level and have more than 75 percent student participation during the 2018-19 school year.
“It’s incredible to see our children take on the role of problem solvers, young engineers, computer programmers, and critical thinkers,” said Kelli Sommers, PLTW teacher at RPE. “What an impressive job they have done and continue to do in these roles. It has been such a neat journey to see STEM take on new emphasis at RPE and in the lives of our students.”
Studies show that students decide as early as elementary school whether they like, and think they are good at, math and science. Whether designing a car safety belt or building digital animations based on their own short stories, PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects.
“It is a great honor to recognize Rosa Parks Elementary for their commitment to providing students with an excellent educational experience,” said Dr. Vince Bertram, President and CEO of PLTW. “They should be very proud of their work to ensure students have the knowledge and skills to be career-ready and successful on any career path they choose.”
RPE is part of a community of PreK-12 schools, colleges/universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a passion for providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s recognition program, visit pltw.org/our-programs/program-recognition
More About Project Lead the Way
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a mission-driven organization that is transforming the learning experience for millions of PreK-12 students and thousands of teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. Approximately 12,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.
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This news release was written in collaboration with Project Lead the Way.