Partnership to launch Aurora STEM school
The idea of four school districts collaborating to run a science- and mathematics-focused elementary and middle school on a university campus didn't fit into the state's school code — until Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill Wednesday authorizing this type of partnership.
Quinn's signature will allow Aurora University and four Aurora-area school districts to move forward with plans to open a STEM partnership school to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics to third- through eighth-grade students.
“What we're looking at in the partnership school is for students that have high interest and talent in math and science,” chosen based on teacher and parent/guardian recommendation, grades, achievement and diversity, said Sherry Eagle, executive director of the Institute for Collaboration at Aurora University. “It's not a gifted academy.”
The university, along with East Aurora, Indian Prairie, Oswego and West Aurora school districts, now can begin fundraising in hopes of securing $15 million and opening the school during the 2014-15 academic year, Eagle said.
Partner school districts will send children to fill the school's anticipated 400-student capacity and teachers to staff its roughly 25 educator positions.
“It is a community school with its focus being on improving learning for everyone under the roof,” Eagle said. “The success of the school would be evaluated on the improved academic achievements of its students grades three through eight and the improved content knowledge ... of the participating professional educators.”
Teachers will gain experience teaching STEM subjects during two-year appointments at the partnership school, then share their improved talents with students back at their district school, Eagle said.
“We want our children to be prepared to compete for jobs of today and tomorrow,” Quinn said in a news release. “This innovative school will increase learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and give students more opportunities to succeed.”
The law Quinn signed Wednesday allows four or more school districts that serve areas of the same municipality to jointly establish a science and mathematics partnership school for kindergarten through eighth grade.
Eagle said Aurora University intends the STEM partnership school to be a model for other areas in the state that may want to start similar programs under the new law.