STEM S.T.E.P.S. For Success

STEM S.T.E.P.S. For Success

STEM S.T.E.P.S.

A Collaborative Approach to Enhancing the College Eligibility Rates of African American students in Alameda County
  • More African Americans are graduating from high school and are going to college. However, African Americans still have the lowest rates of high school graduation and A-G course completion than any other ethnic group in California

    (Campaign for College Opportunity, December 2013)

  • Among those who graduate, only 15% of African American students have completed the courses required for admission to California’s four-year colleges and universities

    (State of Blacks in Higher Education in California, Campaign for College Opportunity, December 2013)

  • Only 30% of Alameda County African American graduates meet A-G course requirements, compared to 39% for Latino, 58% for Caucasian, and 73% for Asian graduates

    (California Department of Education, 2013)

STEM Strategies to Empower and Prepare Students for Success (STEM S.T.E.P.S. for Success) is a collaborative approach to enhancing college eligibility rates of African American students through STEM education and support for students, educators, and families in Alameda County.

The project is convened by the African American Regional Educational Alliances and includes an Advisory Council made up of local public school districts, institutions of higher education, government officials, community organizations, and businesses.

Target Population

The STEM S.T.E.P.S. for Success project serves:
  • 5-6th and 8th-9th grade African American students enrolled in Alameda County public schools and their families

  • Districts and public school educators in Alameda County

STEM STEPS Fellows Program is an intensive professional development program designed to assist educators with aligning curricular and teaching approaches geared to enhance African American success. The program assists educators with the culturally responsive integration of mathematics and science with applications in engineering and technology while meeting the guidelines of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Specifically, this program will:

  • Impact educator’s pedagogical content knowledge and culturally relevant instructional strategies
  • Provide educators with culturally relevant tools and strategies for encouraging students to pursue STEM courses of study or careers

The Regional Parent Network (RPN) was designed to eradicate the African American achievement gap by increasing the meaningful engagement of African American families in their children’s education. RPN conducts culturally relevant outreach efforts and provides seminars that supports parents with the skills, tools and resources necessary to advocate for their child as well as to be a partner with their child’s school, district, and local educational entities.

STEM STEPS for Success Scholars Program is designed to provide African American students with practical applications of math and science content in a culturally relevant, real world context.

Specifically, this program offers intensive STEM and college awareness experiences to participating students through project based curriculum units and exploration activities.

Upon completion of the academic year program, students are honored and celebrated at the annual African American Student Achievement and Excellence Awards sponsored by AAREA.

Leadership

Executive Director

Monique August

Board of Directors

Bobbie Brooks

Co-Founder

Barb DeBarger

Member

Mary Fisher

Member

Michele Molitor

Member

Dr. Nina Moore

Member

Rev. Dr. Rick Perry

Member

Robyn Fisher

President & Co-Founder

LaShon Smith

Member

Rev. Tommy Smith

Member

Dr. Evelyn Wesley

Member

Advisory Council Members & Project Partners

Alameda County Board Supervisor Keith Carson

Alliance for Regional Collaboration to Heighten Educational Success

Alameda Unified School District

Assemblymember Joan Buchanan

Assemblymember Rob Bonta

Bay Area Science Project

Biotech Partners

California State University, East Bay

Castro Valley Unified School District

Chabot College

Choose College Educational Foundation, Inc.

Congressman Eric Swalwell

Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney

Hayward Unified School District

Holy Names University

Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District

Mills College

New Haven Unified School District

Oakland Unified School District

Peralta Community Foundation

Pleasanton Unified School District

R.T. Fisher Educational Enterprises, Inc.

San Lorenzo Unified School District

Senator Ellen Corbett

University of California Office of the President