Colorado becomes 3rd state to launch STEMworks pilot

DENVER – A new partnership will launch a Colorado STEMworks pilot program to identify and promote effective science, technology, engineering and mathematics education programs.

The partnership announced Wednesday unites the Colorado Technology Association, the Colorado Education Initiative and a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit STEM advocacy organization called Change the Equation.

The project aims to create a database of effective programs in Colorado schools, museums, libraries and other places where learners pick up ideas and experiences. It will also solicit grants to promote and expand programs that offer experience-to-career relevance.

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Colorado joins Arizona and Iowa in partnering with Change the Equation to tap the nationally recognized STEMworks protocols to evaluate and support quality STEM programs for elementary-, middle-, and high-school students.

“Talent is the most powerful incentive a state can offer and directly impacts a company’s bottom line,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper in a media statement. “Colorado has one of the nation’s most educated, technically savvy workforces contributing to its strong position in a broad range of industries.”

The new partnership and pilot are early milestones for Colorado’s STEM Education Roadmap, a public-private partnership that was launched in August to advance STEM education in ways that increase opportunities for all students, meet business needs and attract new companies to the state.

The partnership is to be announced officially at a reception to be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Warwick Hotel, 1776 Grant St. in Denver. This partnership is funded by the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, which is matching up to $50,000 in challenge grant funding to develop Colorado’s database of effective STEM programs.

Companies, foundations, and private donors contributing at least $30,000 as well as their time and talent to the implementation of the STEM Education Roadmap have been designated as STEM Champions. They include the Ball Foundation, Battelle Memorial Institute, Campos EPC, Colorado Workforce Development Council, the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, ISSAC Corp., JPMorgan Chase, United Launch Alliance, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado and Xcel Energy.