Why is it so important that we encourage more women to go into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields? Does it really matter that only 20% of women graduate with computer science or engineering degrees? Does it matter that fewer girls are enrolling in physics and technology classes? For economically-disadvantaged girls, the answer is YES! According to the Department of Education, STEM graduates typically earn more than non-STEM majors and are more likely to be employed.
Our goal is to ensure our girls have every opportunity to plant the seeds needed to break the cycle of poverty. One way to do this is to ensure they have a wide variety of career choices available to them following college graduation, including jobs in STEM fields.
According to the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, girls tend to drop out of the STEM academic pipeline earlier than boys with many losing interest in these subjects during middle school and high school. Getting more girls interested in STEM requires deliberate strategies to connect learning with “real-life” experiences. We have to give our girls the opportunity to engage in authentic, real-world learning experiences, as well as providing a strong STEM focus within the school classroom. In addition, we know from watching the success of our alumnae that experiences outside of the classroom build the confidence necessary to increase college persistence.
YWPN develops programs and partnerships to enhance the school district STEM curriculum at our network schools. The students are provided with opportunities to participate in Robotics teams and competitions, technology classes and after-school activities, STEM focused summer learning programs, and off-campus STEM education. STEM teachers are also provided with professional development opportunities to enhance their teaching methods. These programs are designed to spark our girls’ interest in STEM subjects and possible careers in these fields.
