Summer Matters: New Hands-on STEM Opportunity

Written by Dave Cortese and Jennifer Peck

Momentum is growing in San Jose to make Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) an educational priority, including the launch of a new local program this summer. 

As part of California’s Summer Matters Campaign, the Franklin McKinley School District, Catholic Charities and the Partnership for Children and Youth will provide students with hands-on, high-quality summer learning through a model that has delivered outstanding results in Oakland Unified and Mount Diablo Unified School Districts. 

This program – championed by such leaders as California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson – couldn’t come at a better time or to a better place. Students in the heart of Silicon Valley deserve world-class STEM education to inspire and prepare them for 21st century jobs in the region that was built on, and continues to thrive on, innovation.  

Even with a growing economy primarily due to the tech industry, San Jose is not immune to childhood poverty and low job growth. For example, 83 percent of the students at Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School in San Jose qualify for free and reduced-priced meals. Catholic Charities has long waiting lists for its afterschool program because there are few free or low-cost options for families in the community. 

At the same time, opportunities exist in close proximity to some of Silicon Valley’s best-known tech companies. This summer’s STEM program at Kennedy Elementary School is modeled after a highly successful activity-based curriculum that combines hands-on activities, engaging lesson plans, field trips, science fairs and other experiential learning activities that are fun and motivating  and ideal for the summer months. 

These high quality summer learning programs that combine enrichment, recreation and academics and are delivered through partnerships between schools and community-based organizations have proven to build academic skills and strengthen students’ engagement with school.  

In measuring the program’s effectiveness in Oakland and Mount Diablo, almost all participating students reported increased interest and engagement with science, reporting that the program taught them new things (94%), made science more interesting (93%) and more fun (92%), and made them more excited to do science activities (86%) and want to learn more about science (85%). A solid majority even reported that the program made them more interested in a pursuing a career in science. 

The Summer Matters Campaign, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, Schmahl Science, and San Jose State University are all leading the way in expanding STEM learning for students in San Jose, but this will require year-round efforts and a commitment to delivering high quality programs both during the regular school year and in the summertime. 

We can all agree that it’s important to catalyze San Jose students’ excitement for STEM with continued learning this summer. But agreeing is not enough – it will take commitment, participation and investment from the San Jose community to leap ahead in STEM this summer and beyond. 

We invite public, private and philanthropic leaders, together with educators, parents and others who care about getting San Jose students ready for the future, to join us in taking on STEM this summer. Learn more at www.summermatters2you.net and contact us at info@partnerforchildren.org to get started.

Dave Cortese is Supervisor of Santa Clara County’s 3rd District and a Board Member of the Partnership for Children and Youth.  Jennifer Peck is the Executive Director of the Partnership for Children and Youth, and the Summer Matters’ Co-Chair, and previously spent eight years as an appointee of President Bill Clinton at the U.S. Department of Education.