Caribbean Life, March 6-12, 2020 39
STEM (science, technology,
engineering and mathematics)
fields are some of the
fastest growing in New York
and across the country. But
there’s a huge opportunity
gap for young people – particularly
students of color
and low-income students – to
break into these lucrative industries.
One way the opportunity
gap plays out is that science is
not consistently offered in elementary
and middle schools
serving low-income students.
Given how quickly the tech
industry is growing, this puts
students at a severe disadvantage,
and contributes to the
lack of diversity in the field.
Today, 84 percent of STEM
professionals in the U.S. are
White or Asian men. Black
and Latino people make up
only five percent of the workforce
in top tech companies.
Here in New York City, data
shows that we still have a
long way to go to truly expand
access to STEM careers
for New Yorkers from low-income
communities.
One New York City charter
network is tackling the
problem head on.
KIPP (Knowledge is Power
Program) NYC was founded in
the South Bronx in 1995 with
a mission to help low-income
children develop the knowledge
and skills they need to
lead choice-filled lives. Now
a network of 15 free, public
charter schools in the Bronx,
Washington Heights, Harlem
and Brooklyn serving nearly
8,000 students and alumni,
KIPP early on recognized the
need to equip their students
with both the 21st century
skills and the confidence they
need to succeed in fast-growing
STEM fields.
Four years ago, KIPP committed
to growing its science
program so all students receive
consistent science instruction.
By exposing young
students to STEM instruction
and programming in the
classroom, KIPP hopes to instill
students with a passion
for science and math that they
will carry with them for the
rest of their lives. In August,
KIPP NYC launched its first
STEAM school – KIPP Elements
– that offers a hands-on
STEM curriculum, including
robotics lessons, to 80 kindergarteners.
In order to help
students see themselves in
the world of STEM, KIPP also
implemented Computational
Thinking and Data Science
curricula for elementary
school students.
However, KIPP also recognized
that many compelling
STEM opportunities exist
outside of the classroom,
and too often are reserved for
students in wealthier school
districts. To help address this
disparity, in 2018, KIPP NYC
applied for and was awarded
a $50,000 grant from FIRST
to launch 18 robotics teams
across their K-8 schools.
Thanks to the success of the
program, KIPP secured an
additional $25,000 for the
2019-2020 school year to help
expand robotics programming
to even more students
across New York City.
“FIRST has already impacted
students’ mindsets
around STEM,” says KIPP
NYC Director of Science Chéla
Wallace, “when polling our 50
participating elementary students,
almost half now state
they want to be an engineer
or scientist due to their experience
with FIRST.”
KIPP NYC believes that
children from urban communities
are creators, thinkers
and explorers. Through innovative
STEM programming
in and outside of the classroom,
KIPP will continue to
empower the students they
serve to become the next generation
of great scientists,
engineers, thinkers and innovators.
Our young people
deserve no less.
EDUCAT I O N PROFI LE – A DV E RTI S E M E NT
Which New York City school is
leading the way in STEM education?
IT’S A JOY TO LEARN AT
With families and communities
we create joyful, academically
excellent schools where students
learn, grow, and choose their own
path to college, career, and beyond!
• KIPP students beat the national rates
for high school and college graduations.
• Every KIPP school is tuition-free.
• Find a KIPP school near you in the
Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem, and
Washington Heights.
Accepting K-12 applications
through April 1, 2020
www.kippnyc.org/apply
/apply
/apply
