Barnstable Public Schools Awarded $25,000 Grant from One8 Foundation for Project Lead The Way

BARNSTABLE — Superintendent Sara Ahern is pleased to announce that Barnstable Public Schools has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the One8 Foundation for the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Gateway program. This grant will help better prepare students at Barnstable Intermediate School for future school and career success.

The competitive grant, distributed over three years, will go toward the Barnstable Intermediate School to provide applied learning curricular programming from PLTW in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science.

The PLTW curriculum provides hands-on learning, empowering students to apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems.

The grant funds will support teacher professional development, the purchase of educational materials, and the acquisition of equipment for PLTW courses.

“Barnstable Public Schools is excited to be awarded this competitive grant to continue our partnership with the One8 Foundation to provide high-quality applied learning through PLTW,” said Superintendent Ahern. “PLTW coursework in the areas of biomedical science, engineering, and computer science will provide our students with many of the skills they will need to access vital opportunities in these important sectors that are powering the state economy.”

As a school in Massachusetts with PLTW programming, Barnstable Intermediate School will also have access to additional opportunities for teachers and students, offered by the Mass Learning Project and the One8 Applied Learning Hub team:

• Implementation support and planning: Services include scheduling, training and equipment, along with access to best practices and connections to implementation experts.
• Additional professional learning opportunities: The Mass Learning Project runs conferences, convenings, and professional development days throughout the year to provide additional content support and networking opportunities for teachers and district leaders.
• Authentic industry connections: The One8 Applied Learning Hub team offers opportunities for students and educators to connect with relevant industry professionals, providing feedback on PLTW coursework through events, competitions, showcases and classroom visits.

“Students are hungry for experiences that allow them to apply what they are learning to solve real-world, meaningful problems,” said Joanna Jacobson, President of the One8 Foundation. “Providing equitable access to hands-on applied learning programs that deliver academic gains while building critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills ensures students are engaged and interested in school and prepared for success in this ever-changing world.”

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