Overview

The Pennsylvania Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Initiative is excited to be working with the National Girls Collaborative on our joint project, the PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project. The PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project brings together organizations throughout Pennsylvania that are committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue careers in STEM.

Too often programs that serve girls in STEM are limited in service and impact due to size, location, funding, expertise, and equipment. In other cases, projects compete with each other, duplicating services and seeking the same resources. The PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project provides the opportunity for programs to increase their ability to maintain interest and participation of girls in STEM within their regions through collaboration.

The PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project is based upon a model developed by the National Girls Collaborative Project, and replicated through a grant from the National Science Foundation. The model is structured to bring organizations together to compare needs and resources, share information, and to plan strategically to expand STEM-related opportunities for girls.

In addition, the PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project is working in conjunction with the Pennsylvania STEM Initiative. The Pennsylvania STEM Initiative is a unique public-private partnership led by Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell around STEM education and training redesign. This cross agency/cross sector organization comprises stakeholders from Commonwealth Agencies (Governor’s Office; PA Departments of Education, Labor & Industry, Community & Economic Development, Environmental Protection; Pennsylvania Public Television Network), the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, and the National Governors Association. The Pennsylvania STEM Initiative is charged with implementing a comprehensive strategy that attracts more students and workers (especially females, minority and the underserved) to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

The vision of the PA STEM Initiative is that Pennsylvania will have a globally competitive and diverse workforce with a robust supply of highly proficient STEM professionals, its P-20 educational system will be filled with well-prepared and equipped STEM instructors, and its high school graduates will be STEM proficient--prepared for success in college and careers.