Rhode Island and STEM
Rhode Island’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative began in 2005 with the announcement by Governor Donald L. Carcieri of a Blue Ribbon Panel on Mathematics and Science Education. This commission, comprised of business leaders, educators, administrators and representatives of community organizations issued Project Making the Grade - An Action Plan for Rhode Island to guide improvements in STEM education for ALL of Rhode Island’s children.
The Governor’s PK-16 (pre-kindergarten through college) Council is charged with tracking progress on this action plan. To coordinate implementation statewide and build public/private partnerships that are essential for success, David Cedrone - STEM education program manager, was appointed by the Council in the fall of 2006. David chairs the STEM Education Advisory Committee.
In response to the need for improved hands-on guided inquiry science programs, Physics First - Rhode Island was launched as a pilot project in 2005 at Cranston West, East Providence, Portsmouth, Woonsocket, Mt. Pleasant and
Lincoln high schools. This innovative initiative received "seed" funding through the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Honor States grant program, and has been supported through annual funding approved by the Rhode Island General Assembly. Building on the Physics First project, in 2007 a partnership of the Concord Consortium, East Bay Education Collaborative and Rhode Island College received a three-year $1.2M National Science Foundation grant to prepare students for careers in information technologies by engaging them in inquiry-based learning activities that use computational models within this innovative science curriculum.
The Creative Use of Technology in Education program, supported by $15M in state funds, was announced in the fall of 2006 with implementation continuing through 2009. Rhode Island’s three public higher education institutions each introduced a multi-year plan to integrate technology in creative and engaging ways that will improve the education of pre-service and in-service K-12 STEM teachers. A portion of these funds also supports the internationally recognized Inner Space Center initiative, a partnership of Dr. Robert Ballard and the Smithfield Public School District.
In September of 2008 the Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education approved amendments to the High School Regulations of 2003 that, among others requires students complete 20 academic credits (courses), including four years of mathematics and three years of science.
Most recently, a partnership of the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Johnson Public School district were awarded a $12.5M five-year grant from the National Science Foundation for a statewide science education improvement initiative.
