About Project Lead The Way

Project Lead The Way is a national, not-for-profit educational program that helps give middle and high school students the rigorous ground-level education they need to develop strong backgrounds in science and engineering.

Mission Statement

We will create dynamic partnerships with our nation's schools to prepare an increasing and more diverse group of students to be successful in science, engineering, and engineering technology.

Our Goals
The PLTW goals are to:

• Increase the number of young people who pursue engineering and engineering technology programs in four- and two-year post-secondary programs.
  
  
• Provide equitable and inclusive opportunities for all academically qualified students. Provide clear standards and expectations for student success in the program.
  
• Reduce the future college attrition rate in four- and two-year engineering and engineering technology programs.
  
  
• Provide leadership and support that will produce continuous improvement and innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs.
  
  
• Contribute to the continued vitality of the nations's prosperity.

Our Values at Project Lead The Way
Project Lead The Way believes that:

Committing to diversity promotes opportunities for individuals, enhances creativity, and strengthens organizations.

• Individuals and teams working in a culture of collaboration toward clear and common goals achieve greater satisfaction and superior results.
  
  
• The passionate and unwavering pursuit of continuous improvement is essential to high levels of achievement.
  
  
• All people are capable of achieving at higher levels and deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
  
  
• It is essential to know, listen to, and be responsive to our customers.
  
  
• Anticipating and managing change is critical to success.
  
  
• Learning is a lifelong process.
  
  
• Honesty, integrity, and the highest ethical standards are essential attributes of an effective organization.

We cherish our values and adhere to them with the greatest dedication. These goals and values will help students involved in PLTW achieve academic success and outstanding intellectual development.

The History of Project Lead The Way

PLTW was launched in 1996 as a springboard for enhanced technology education, the result of work done by current Vice President Richard Blais, when he was working as the Technology Education Department head at a high school in upstate New York. Blais established an advisory board and, through generous grants and hard work, the program was founded as an independent not-for-profit organization by 1997.

Now into its second decade, PLTW continues to grow through the teamwork of thousands of vested stakeholders on the local, state, and national level. PLTW's quality remians high as it grows in scale, and schools and students can count on it to continue to provide exciting and challenging educational opportunities.