Feb 28, 2019 2 min read

CHARLEROI – Charleroi School District has received a $500,000 PAsmart Advancing Computer Science & STEM Education grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education – part of an initiative to expand access to high-quality computer science and STEM education across the state.

Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich said the goal is to enhance each student’s knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and help them to build skill sets they can use throughout their careers.

“We are beginning to align our curriculum to provide STEM opportunities for every student, from grades K-8,” said Zelich during a meeting of Charleroi’s board of education on Tuesday. “We will be emphasizing coding because that’s were a lot of the jobs are at. It’s important to introduce these concepts to kids at a younger age because that’s when they start to develop critical thinking skills. The more these students learn about STEM, the more doors that will open up for them after they graduate from high school.”

Governor Tom Wolf launched PAsmart last year to bolster STEM education, apprenticeships and job training. His goal is to develop innovative solutions that close the skills gap and rapidly meet the needs of employers.

Charleroi is joining seven other area school districts that are partnering in the pilot program, including Beechwood Elementary, Brownsville, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Manchester Academic Charter, Pittsburgh Allegheny K-5 and South Fayette.

The grant provides paid professional development for Charleroi’s teachers in June at the STEAM Innovation Summer Institute in South Fayette Township, along with money to purchase equipment for STEM programs. Charleroi’s secondary school students already have access to STEM programming.

Zelich also invited board members to join him, along with a group of teachers and students, for a STEM briefing at South Fayette School District on March 12.