Dist. 15's new STEM program focus of CCAC's Feb. 22 meeting

Community Consolidated School District 15 is set to launch a STEM program in the fall, and the district's Community Curriculum Advisory Council is set to share the details of this exciting development during its next meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22 in Room 121 of the Joseph M. Kiszka Educational Service Center, 580 N. 1st Bank Drive, Palatine.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and employment in these fields remains on the rise while the number of students graduating with degrees in these areas is projected to remain flat.

During this, the CCAC's fourth meeting, Deputy Superintendent Jim Garwood will share how the district's recent adoption of Project Lead the Way's Gateway to Technology middle school STEM program will help students develop the 21st-century skills they'll need to succeed in these fields.

Already this year, CCAC meetings have introduced the district's instructional program and presented snapshots of a student's day, explained the state's new “Common Core” standards, and described the different standardized assessments the district administers to its students.

The CCAC includes representation from across the district, and it is charged with providing input in a cooperative spirit about the curriculum improvement process in District 15. The district created the CCAC as a result of its Navigate15 community engagement session on World-Class Curriculum. When that topic generated such a tremendous amount of interest among parents and community members, the district saw a great opportunity to continue raising awareness of its instructional program and to continue working with the community to improve its curriculum by developing the council.

CCAC meetings are open to the public, and the entire District 15 community is invited to attend them.

-- Story submitted by Community Consolidated School District 15