Out-of-School STEAM Programming Expansion for Under-Resourced L.A. Elementary Students

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Countless elementary school children throughout L.A. County do not receive formal STEAM instruction due to lack of funding in under-resourced communities. Many schools in South, East L.A. and the North Valley, where PS Science has a significant presence, are in communities with "STEM deserts" lacking basic STEM opportunities for students. Furthermore, schools serving low-income students have less access to STEAM-related extracurricular activities compared to schools in more affluent areas. Now, many L.A. County school districts are facing budget constraints post-pandemic, which limits their ability to fund extended learning programs. Research shows what happens outside of school can be equally important as what happens inside in terms of activating students’ interest in STEAM. Recognizing the enormous potential to reach more youth out of the classroom, PS Science has increased its out-of-school enrichment programming targeting communities in STEM deserts through partnership expansion.

An LA2050 grant will fuel our growth ensuring that PS Science reaches more under-resourced students who lack access to meaningful and engaging STEAM education through our out-of-school program expansion. We have achieved remarkable growth, especially in the last few years. We are now providing almost 8,000 more under-resourced elementary students with high-quality science education year-round than in 2020. Collaboration has been key to increasing the number of students we impact. We now partner with several YMCA locations, Boys & Girls Clubs, the City of L.A. Dept. of Parks and Rec, libraries, Inglewood parks, Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center, and Freedom School pilot programs to provide additional enrichment opportunities year-round. For the second year in a row, we have partnered with PPG Foundation to extend STEM programming to almost 2,000 youth where resources are limited in the San Fernando Valley. LA2050’s investment will enable PS Science to provide more targeted enrichment activities outside of normal school hours for an additional 5,000+ under-resourced youth including:
·After-school Science Clubs, STEM lessons, and spring break camps for young scientists and engineers in the making who are looking for extra STEM enrichment; ·Family Science Nights, giving parents more opportunities to explore, learn, and problem solve with their children;
·S-TEAM Rangers Summer Science Institute: two-week, day camp experience where youth unleash their creativity with like-minded peers.

Ensuring elementary students, starting in kindergarten, spend sufficient time learning science each week is essential for the future STEAM workforce. Yet, the nation has a poor track record of advancing students of color out of K-12 into postsecondary learning opportunities and on to STEM professions. In fact, Black and Hispanic students are underrepresented among students earning Science & Engineering degrees and among STEM workers. People of color make up 36% of the US adult population but occupy only 11% of STEM positions.
For almost 20 years, PS Science’s high-quality, stimulating STEAM programs have ignited the curiosity of students from low-wealth backgrounds in the world around them, given them a strong STEAM foundation for future academic and career success, and inspired the next generation of scientists and innovators starting in elementary school. Our long-term goal is to expand our programming beyond the regional level to reach more students at the state and national level.

Comments/suggestions from students, parents and site administrators will be compiled via surveys. Organizational outputs will be tracked via the number of youth participants in our out-of-school programs. Learning outcomes will be evaluated utilizing a combination of student self-report and student direct assessments.
Our out-of-school program impact:
“I can tell you that it is very fun and entertaining. I look forward to learning every day!” – S-TEAM Rangers Summer camper from Title 1 school, Accelerated Charter Elementary.
"I like that we get to use our imagination and then we get to create what we want and then we get to try new things. At first, I didn't think I could do science, but then I heard about this club and after I tried it, I really loved it.” –After-School English Language Learners student.
“My son has always loved science, but I saw a noticeable difference in his interest and excitement level - and I would definitely attribute that to the PS Science STEM club.” – Parent