What is Sprouting STEM

What is Sprouting STEM

    What is Sprouting STEM: The Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant proposal will target a diverse pool of students to increase enrollment from different social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds to reduce and/or eliminate minority group isolation at the identified six proposed schools.

Broward Estates Elementary is one of six schools that have been selected for the proposed Sprouting STEM Museum Magnet program. All six elementary schools matriculate to the Growing STEM Middle Magnet Schools that are flourishing from the 2010 MSAP grant. The “STEM seed” will be cultivated at the elementary level and will be nourished to produce excellence in all academic areas.

Why these six schools:  Because, these schools have been impacted by an increase in minority group isolation and the number of students that are economically disadvantaged.  Without additional funds, the schools will continue to lose enrollment and fall into the re-segregation pattern of pre-dominantly minority, isolated, low socio-economic schools.                            Often remaining at the schools, are some of the most fragile students with fewer resources available to meet their academic needs and fewer resources available to attract back their home school community or families from beyond the school boundaries. As a result, each targeted school has been significantly impacted by both the loss of students and reduced in state funding.

What is a Museum Night for STEM: the museum model concept of researching, exploring, experimenting, and explaining while actively engaging students to think critically and creatively making STEM connections.

Using the Socratic method of Paideia, differentiated instruction, and technological literacy, the breadth of learning for students will expand with the STEM museum model, as students approach academics and education in an inquiry based, interactive learning environment extending beyond the classroom walls.