Warwick High School students gained access to a new set of hands-on engineering courses in 2015, thanks to a $35,000 grant from the Dart Foundation.
Project Lead The Way, a national nonprofit that develops science, technology, engineering and math curriculum, announced in April 2015 that Warwick and Pequea Valley High School were the two Lancaster County schools selected to receive grants to start its PLTW Engineering program. Five other high schools in California, Georgia, Illinois and Texas also received awards.
What the grant pays for
The $35,000 is spread over three years and covers the costs of launching a new program: teacher training, classroom equipment and supplies, and the annual participation fee schools pay to offer Project Lead The Way courses.
For a district, those startup costs can be the biggest hurdle to adding specialized technical courses. The grant allowed Warwick to begin the program without drawing heavily on its own budget.
Learning by doing
PLTW Engineering is designed for students in grades 9 through 12. Rather than relying mainly on lectures and textbooks, the courses are built around projects and problems that mirror the work engineers do.
Students learn and apply the engineering design process, use industry-standard software and technology, and explore subjects such as robotics, aerodynamics and astronautics, biological engineering, manufacturing and digital electronics. The program emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork.
Students who complete PLTW courses can sometimes earn college credit, admissions preferences or scholarships at participating colleges and universities.
A national network
At the time of the announcement, more than 6,500 elementary, middle and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offered Project Lead The Way programs, making it one of the country’s largest providers of K-12 STEM curriculum. The organization also provides professional development for teachers and works with corporate partners and universities.
PLTW’s president and chief executive, Dr. Vince Bertram, called the Dart Foundation a critical partner in preparing students for jobs in a global economy. He said every student deserves access to rigorous, project-based STEM education.
About the funder
The Dart Foundation is a private foundation established in 1984 by William A. and Claire T. Dart and based in Mason, Michigan. Its mission centers on advancing youth education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Foundation trustee Ariane Dart said the foundation looks for programs that encourage science and math learning along with career exploration, and that PLTW makes those subjects relevant both in and beyond the classroom.
Why it matters locally
Northern Lancaster County is home to a range of employers that depend on technical skills, from manufacturing plants to the live-event production companies clustered in Lititz. Programs like PLTW Engineering give high school students an early, practical look at engineering careers and help them decide whether to pursue technical degrees.
For Warwick, the grant added another option for students interested in STEM fields, alongside the district’s existing science and technology offerings. Families interested in the courses were encouraged to talk with school counselors about scheduling and prerequisites.
A growing emphasis on STEM
The award reflected a broader push in Pennsylvania and across the country to expand STEM education in public schools. Hands-on programs have become an increasingly common way for districts to connect classroom lessons with real-world careers, and grants such as this one help schools take the first step.
Looking ahead
District leaders described the grant as an investment that would pay off over years, as each class of students moved through the sequence. Teachers trained through the program would be able to keep offering the courses after the three-year grant period ended, giving the engineering pathway a lasting place in Warwick’s course catalog. For students who enjoy building, tinkering and solving puzzles, it offered a new reason to look forward to their schedules each fall.