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P-12

  *“…When you have higher levels of educational achievement, you have a higher level of health and living…We believe that if our work leads more kids to get a good education, it will help them and our communities…”*                                     Joe Rosier, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Rapides Foundation [1]         Education in Central Louisiana is changing—and for the better. Programs like The Rapides Foundation’s five-year Systemic Initiative program helped school administrators and educators change the culture of education throughout Central Louisiana. Additionally, the Rapides Foundation also has a new focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics [2](STEM) geared toward improving student achievement.     The National High School Alliance [3] website defines STEM education as: “…not simply a new name for the traditional approach to teaching science and mathematics. Nor is it just the grafting of “technology” and “engineering” layers onto standard science and math curricula. Instead, STEM is an approach to teaching that is larger than its constituent parts; it is, as Janice Morrison of the Teaching Institute for Essential Science puts it, a “meta-discipline"…”     In order for Louisiana citizens to successfully compete in an increasingly technical global economy, they */must possess/* critical thinking skills, knowledge and increased skill levels in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. To help accomplish this goal, the Rapides Foundation earmarked funds for a Local Education Fund (LEF), now known as The Orchard Foundation [4], which is a separate entity from the Foundation.     The Orchard Foundation, comprised of educators, community and business leaders explored the development of a Local Education fund, studied what other educators across the United States accomplished, and put together a plan for initial strategies of chartering, organizing, and managing a LEF in Central Education.     As levels of technology change, so must our approach to education. Programs like the ones mentioned above are part of an on-going process to equip future generations with the knowledge and skill levels necessary for success—today and tomorrow.   *References / Further Reading*    Rapides Foundation, Education Initiative, The Systemic Initiative [5]   Rapides Foundation, Education initiative turns its focus to STEM [6]   National High School Alliance, Frequently Asked Questions, STEM Education [7],   Orchard Foundation [8]   [1] http://www.rapidesfoundation.org/site34.php [2] http://www.rapidesfoundation.org/site60.php [3] http://www.hsalliance.org/stem/FAQ.asp [4] http://www.theorchardfoundation.org/ [5] http://www.rapidesfoundation.org/site60.php [6] http://www.rapidesfoundation.org/site125.php [7] http://www.hsalliance.org/stem/FAQ.asp [8] http://www.theorchardfoundation.org/
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