ACPS Announces STEM Partnership with Virginia Tech
“This partnership increases equitable access to opportunities in the STEM field for children who may not have otherwise had those opportunities," said ACPS Superintendent Dr, Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
ALEXANDRIA, VA – On June 25, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) announced it will partner with Virginia Tech University to make world-class STEM experts part of its teaching and learning plans.
The agreement between Virginia Tech and ACPS aims to enhance science, technology, engineering, and math opportunities that create can create paths to higher education and give ACPS students support as they begin to map out their futures.
“This partnership increases equitable access to opportunities in the STEM field for children who may not have otherwise had those opportunities,” said ACPS Superintendent Dr, Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. “Through it, our staff will be able to provide our students with even more engaging and creative learning experiences.”
ACPS will work alongside Virginia Tech’s teaching and learning experts to strengthen key areas of PreK-12 academics. These areas were identified through a year-long consulting process with the university.
The four areas are:
- Enhancing the science curriculum across elementary school years
- Providing support and professional learning to staff at Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology and Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School to refine their STEM teaching
- Middle school STEM exploration including alignment of after-school and summer programs
- The continuation of developing pathways from high school to college for low income, underrepresented and first-generation students
Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus will be the global center of technology excellence and talent production. It will be a place where highly-skilled students, world-class faculty, smart ideas, and forward-thinking companies meet to propel the commonwealth and the region forward.
ACPS students will be able to use the campus for educational growth and to discover opportunities that can help place them in high-demand careers
Virginia Tech expects to have a ground-breaking ceremony for the building next year. The first students will be welcomed into the campus by the fall of 2024.
“This agreement lays the foundation for a partnership that will be a model for PreK-12/ higher education collaboration in the commonwealth,” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said. “It’s an important step that will create pathways that increase college access and help expand the state’s tech talent pipeline.”
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