Reading Community City School District has been awarded $12,500 in STEM grants to fund STEM education in K-12th grade. The grant was funded through Batelle’s 2nd round of the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) Classroom Grant Program. This program gave over $1 million to 200 classrooms across Ohio, in which Reading Schools was awarded three different classroom projects for this grant.
Stephanie Glad, the district’s Wellness and Community Outreach Coordinator, worked with three teachers to submit grant proposals for STEM-related projects. The projects the teachers submitted included materials to help teachers better instruct students in IT, engineering, advanced manufacturing, and construction. Some of the items that the school will be able to purchase through this grant include Chromebooks, programmable robots, augmented and virtual reality equipment, and other materials to help build curiosity and competency in STEM-related areas.
Reading’s STEM focus is one area where the district provides a unique advantage over other schools. STEM education starts in elementary school with specific instruction to develop student capacity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These grants will help further that focus as students will have access to high-quality STEM education in elementary school through twelfth grade, where students will be able to take advantage of advanced manufacturing instruction. This focus on STEM instruction is something that is unique to Reading HS. Not many high schools in the area provide advanced manufacturing instruction, but this grant will help Reading be one of the first in the state to do so.
Reading Schools is committed to inspiring the leaders of tomorrow with engaging opportunities today. These grants will bring these opportunities to Reading Schools, and students will benefit from the increase in STEM education.