The high school program is a four-year sequence of courses which, when combined with traditional mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering prior to entering college. However, those not intending to pursue further formal education will benefit greatly from the knowledge and logical thought processes that result from taking some or all of the courses provided in the curriculum.

Foundation Courses: Principles Of Engineering , Introduction to Engineering Design, Digital Electronics
Specialization Courses: Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Biotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Architectural, Aerospace Engineering
Capstone Course: EDD

West Harrisonis now offering Project Lead the Way.

Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick discussed Project Lead The Way during one of its session back in march of 2005. Watch the video .

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY CITED AS A MODEL FOR FUTURE K-12 SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION IMPROVEMENTS

CLIFTON PARK, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 20, 2005- A recent study by the National Academies, the nation's leading science advisory group, confirmed the nation's dire need for broad-based, sweeping efforts to strengthen the country's scientific competitiveness. As the pace of globalization has increased, other countries have bolstered their science and math education, improving their ability to compete with the United States. The report cited several indicators that U.S. K-12 science and math education is lagging behind the rest of the world:

*U.S. 12th-graders recently performed below the international average for 21 countries on a test of general knowledge in mathematics and science. In addition, an advanced mathematics assessment was administered to students in 15 other countries who were taking or had taken advanced math courses, and to U.S. students who were taking or had taken pre-calculus, calculus, or Advanced Placement calculus. Eleven countries outperformed the United States, and four scored similarly. None scored significantly below the United States.

*In 1999 only 41 percent of U.S. eighth-graders had a math teacher who had majored in mathematics at the undergraduate or graduate level or studied the subject for teacher certification -- a figure that was considerably lower than the international average of 71 percent.

*Last year more than 600,000 engineers graduated from institutions of higher education in China. In India, the figure was 350,000. In America, it was about 70,000.

Amid all of the sobering facts, a local program was highlighted as a bright spot in U.S. public science and math education. Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a not-for-profit network of public schools, colleges and universities, and private sector organizations, develops curriculum that teaches middle and high school students a wide range of science- and math-related engineering principles. The report noted that "students participating in PLTW Courses are better prepared for college engineering courses" and went on to name PLTW's pre-engineering courseware as the model for future efforts to develop K-12 curriculum materials with world-class standards.

The program operates as a curriculum provided free-of-charge to schools for implementation by trained teachers. PLTW's staff of experienced engineers and educators collaborates to create an ever-evolving project- and problem-solving-based core curriculum for each offered course.

Comprehensive teacher education is a critical component of PLTW, and the curriculum uses cutting-edge technology and software that requires specialized education.Continuing education supports teachers as they implement the program and provides for continuous improvement of skill.

PLTW was first introduced at West Harrison CSD in the fall of 2005. 13 students are currently participating in the program this year. We have reached a total enrollment of 30 students in this the 2006/2007 school year.

The study, Rising Above The Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future , was sponsored by the National Academies, which comprise the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council. They are private, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy advice under a congressional charter.

Copies of Rising Above The Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future will be available this fall from the National Academies Press; tel. 202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242 or on the Internet at http://www.nap.edu .

Project Lead The Way (PLTW), based in Clifton Park, New York, is a not-for-profit pre-engineering education program for middle schools and high schools. Visit the Internet at http://www.pltw.org to learn more about the PLTW mission, the curriculum, and programs in your area. Reporters may obtain a media kit by calling the contacts listed above.

Iowa is now up and running with PLTW and a website at http://www.pltwiowa.org/ has been created strictly for PLTW in Iowa.