13 new Academies of Engineering open across the country
Ground-breaking partnership helps prepare students to meet U.S. need for engineers
New York, NY, August 15, 2008— After a successful year of planning, 13 Academy of Engineering (AOE) sites across the country are opening their doors this fall. Designed for 9th – 12th graders, the Academies are part of a ground-breaking partnership between the National Academy Foundation (NAF), Project Lead The Way, Inc. (PLTW) and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) to help address America’s escalating need for men and women with skills in science and engineering.
The Academies of Engineering are small learning communities, or schools-within-a-school, with an underrepresented minority student-enrollment focus, built on a solid academic foundation that adheres to national and state standards in mathematics, science and technology. Courses are taught around a broad technical core-curriculum which prepares students to pursue post-secondary engineering and engineering technology degree programs.
The AOE partnership combines NAF’s 26-year history of success in career-themed academies, PLTW’s curriculum expertise focused on math and science and NACME’s vital connection to engineering via university and corporate partnerships. In its first year of implementation, the partnership looks to grow into a national network of 110 Academies by 2011.
“The AOE project blends the dynamic and unique attributes of three dedicated and altruistic organizations,” said Richard Liebich, PLTW CEO and Chairman. “The resulting educational partnership should have significant impact on attracting and retaining the quality, quantity and diversity essential for the nation’s future engineering and technical workforce.”
The initial 13 pilot sites are located at the following high schools and cities:
High Schools for Construction Trades, Engineering & Architecture – Queens, NY
Frederick Douglass High School – Atlanta, GA
AJ Moore Academy – Waco, TX
H. Grady Spruce High School – Dallas, TX
East High School on Arcadia – Columbus, OH
University High School – Los Angeles, CA
EDT Academy Morse High School – San Diego, CA
Patrick Henry High School – San Diego, CA
James Madison High School – San Diego, CA
Harmony Magnet Academy – Strathmore, CA
Burton High School – San Francisco, CA
Northwest Career and Technical Academy – Las Vegas, NV
Technology, Engineering & Communications School – Burien, WA
Demand for qualified, highly-trained engineers in the United States is on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, four of the top 30 fastest growing occupations through 2014 will be in engineering-related fields. The Bureau projects that this will result in more than 386,000 new engineering job openings. Current trends, however, show the supply of U.S. educated engineers is waning. Not enough students are graduating high school with sufficient math and science skills, and not enough college students are pursuing education majors.
“There are two crises in our schools that these Academies will help to address,” said NAF President JD Hoye. “They will encourage students, especially minority kids in inner-city schools, to focus on their future careers. At the same time, this initiative addresses the acute shortage of engineers available to America’s employers.”
The Academies will also ready students for other post-secondary studies that require a strong foundation in engineering, math, science and language arts. Corporations provide paid internships and serve as volunteers, mentors and members of local advisory boards.
“NACME is pleased to be joining NAF and Project Lead The Way in launching a national network of urban-centered, open enrollment, high school Academies of Engineering that will provide students with the science and math skills required to be college-ready for engineering study,” said Dr. John Brooks Slaughter, President & CEO, NACME, Inc. “By involving parents, community resources, local corporations, and two-year and four-year colleges in the activities of the academies, we anticipate a dramatic increase in the number of underrepresented minorities prepared to engage in engineering education.”
