DES MOINES, IOWA (June 5, 2019) — Governor Kim Reynolds announced that six additional elementary schools will receive $50,000 grants each to transform themselves into models of innovative computer-science instruction through a joint project of the Iowa Department of Education and the Governor’s STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] Advisory Council. This increases the total number of schools participating in the Computer Science is Elementary Project to 12 across the state.
The six additional schools to receive support for computer-science innovation are:
- Pocahontas Elementary in the Pocahontas Area Community School District
- Franklin Elementary in the Boone Community School District
- Hospers Elementary in the MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District
- Storm Lake Elementary in the Storm Lake Community School District
- Kingsley-Pierson Elementary in the Kingsley-Pierson Community School District
- Whittier Elementary in the Clinton Community School District
The six initial schools selected to receive support for computer-science innovation are:
- Denison Elementary in the Denison Community School District
- Lenihan Intermediate in the Marshalltown Community School District
- Cora B. Darling Elementary in the Postville Community School District
- East Union Elementary in the East Union Community School District
- Perry Elementary in the Perry Community School District
- Richardson Elementary in the Fort Madison Community School District
The 2019 Legislature appropriated an additional $1 million for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, which allowed the Council to designate $300,000 for the six additional schools. Private-sector partners contributed $300,000 for the first six schools, plus $50,000 for Loess Hills Computer Programming School in Sioux City, which inspired the project and will continue to serve as a resource. All 12 schools will start their programs by 2020-21.
The Computer Science is Elementary Project aligns with Future Ready Iowa, which sets the goal of 70-percent of our workforce having education or training beyond high school by the year 2025. The initiative also focuses on strengthening preK-12 education and career exploration and preparation.
About the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
Established in July 2011 via Governor’s Executive Order, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership of educators, companies, and Iowa students and families addressing policies and programs designed to improve Iowa’s educational system focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready workforce path, regain our State’s historic leadership position in education, and provide a vital, competitive, economic advantage now, and for the future, to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM-education opportunities. The 50-member STEM Council is chaired by Gov Kim Reynolds and Accumold President and CEO Roger Hargens. For more information, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov.
