Project Lead the Way, now in its 20th year, is trying to improve those numbers by creating K-12 computer science, biomedical, and engineering course electives like the one being used at Hillside High School, one of more than 10,000 schools across the country that teach the nonprofit’s STEM curriculum. More than 2.4 million students are currently enrolled in PLTW classes.

“Research shows that students decide as early [as] second grade or earlier whether they like or are good at computer science. It’s especially true for girls and underrepresented minority groups,” Greer added. “Our launch program is designed to help combat these stereotypes and inspire and engage students as early as kindergarten to see what they can do and how far they can go with that knowledge and develop that perseverance and grit.”

The cost of PLTW computer science courses for districts ranges from $700 to $3,500. The organization partners with different government agencies, philanthropic groups, and corporations, such as Verizon, which provided a $5 million grant, partly to train middle school teachers in 240 schools in 36 states, and recently pledged $3 million more to PLTW.

Read the full article by Kei-Sygh Thomas on The 74