Gateway To Technology® School School of Excellence Questions & Answers

Is the SOE program connected with the PLTW® high school certification process?

Both programs recognize the commitment of schools to the quality standards of the Project Lead The Way® programs. However, the two processes are distinct:

• The PLTW® certification process recognizes the PLTW® pre-engineering/ technology high school program and offers transcripted college credit, as an option, at participating National Affiliates. 
• The PLTW® SOE process recognizes the integrated math, science, technology Gateway To Technology® Middle/Junior High School program and offers local and national recognition.

If the district does not offer the PLTW® program in the high school or if the high school has already been certified, may the Middle/Junior High School still receive SOE recognition?

Yes.

If our high school has received PLTW® Certification, is our Middle/Junior High School Gateway To Technology® also included?

No. The high school and middle/junior high school programs are separate from one another.

We offer the Gateway program and the first course of the PLTW® high school program in our grade 7 - 9 junior high school. What do we do to receive recognition?

The SOE and PLTW® high school certification are two different programs. In a grade 7 - 9 school, you would apply for both programs.

How is the process begun?

The principal of the Middle/Junior High School applies on the online PLTW® Gateway To Technology® Recognition application. PLTW® will send an electronic application packet including an overview of the process and a self assessment form which should be completed, submitted by the principal and others participating in the review process, and returned to PLTW® by electronic mail. If the school signs the PLTW® release, it should be mailed, along with a check for $150, to

Coordinator of Quality Initiatives
Coordinator Middle School Recognition Program, Project Lead The Way®
747 Pierce Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Are there any additional areas to be included in the self-assessment?

Yes. PLTW® will also be asking for information on the following: · Is the Gateway program available to all students? · Is there teaming across disciplines of the Middle/Junior High School curricula that includes Gateway? · Does the Middle/Junior High School conduct visits to the high school PLTW® program, where one exists, to introduce it to students? · Are parents and college/industry offered opportunities to visit the Middle/Junior High School Gateway program to see student work? · Has the wider school community been made aware of the Gateway program through newsletters, newspaper articles, or Open House presentations?

How are schools asked to demonstrate their commitment to the PLTW® standards of excellence?

There are two ways: · Completing the self assessment form and providing some visuals of the Gateway To Technology® program in action (i.e., power point slides or digital pictures); · Responding to follow-up questions, if any, from Project Lead The Way®.

What process should the school follow in completing the assessment form and submitting the application for recognition?

PLTW® requires that the school convene a committee to review the Gateway To Technology® program and to complete the application. The committee would include the following: the principal or designee, the Gateway-trained teacher(s), a school counselor, a parent, and a member of the community, such as, an engineer, and a member of the high school PLTW® Partnership Team should the high school be a member of the PLTW® Network. Schools are required to include at least two students, one female and one male, in the application process, such as, in the completion of the application, in the creation of power point slides, or in the submission of digital photos

Is there a fee for the recognition process?

Yes. The fee is $150

How long does the School of Excellence recognition last?

Because the Gateway To Technology® program will be expanded, the School of Excellence recognition lasts for five years. Middle/Junior High Schools are encouraged to consider re-applying, following a shorter process, each five years.

Why is there a visual component of the application process?

Many schools develop slide and photo presentations to demonstrate the Gateway To Technology® program to students, parents and to the community. PLTW® is requesting electronic copies of some of these visuals for possible inclusion on its website, in PLTW® presentations, and/or in its newsletter to recognize the school's Gateway To Technology® program. As part of the application packet, PLTW® will provide a PLTW® Release form. Q. What might be included in the visuals? A. The visuals might include students involved in one project from each unit, the elements of the program, or other content which a school would normally show to students, parents, or to the community. Students may work on the development of the visuals under the supervision of the PLTW® teacher.

How many visuals (power point slides and/or digital photos) may be sent electronically?

As a general guideline, PLTW® would like to see one digital photo for each of the four units; students would appear engaged in some aspect of the units. In the application, each slide and/or photo should be numbered, the activity identified and students (and others) identified. Additional slides/photos may include information about the Gateway program at your school. The number of visuals should range from 4 - 8.

When completing the assessment, what word processing/power point program should be used?

PLTW® requests that the application be completed in Microsoft Word.

Must the completed application be submitted electronically?

PLTW® encourages electronic submission; however, we would be happy to accept the application/slides on a disk, along with a paper copy, that would be mailed to Director of School Relations, Middle School Recognition Program, Project Lead The Way®, 747 Pierce Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065. Schools are encouraged to make copies of any materials they send to PLTW®. PLTW® is not responsible for the loss of such materials or in their return.

What about confidentiality of students/school personnel in the slides/photos?

Schools should follow whatever their policies are concerning confidentiality. It is desirable for at least ONE slide/photo to identify the school, principal, and teacher(s). We would like to place at least this ONE slide on the PLTW® website when the school is recognized. Students may be identified by their first names only in this ONE slide or included but not identified. Follow whatever the school policies are concerning identification.

What will happen to the power point slides or electronic photos after being reviewed?

At the time the completed application is sent to PLTW®, the principal of the school will be asked to sign a release which allows PLTW® to use/show the slides/photos to PLTW® teachers during training, to school counselors at the Counselor Conferences, or to other PLTW® personnel for informational purposes. The release will also allow PLTW® to use pictures or slides on the PLTW® or National Affiliate websites and in our newsletter, and to identify the school and state.

What happens if the release is not submitted? Will the process be continued?

Yes. If a school does not wish its visuals to be used by PLTW®, they will be reviewed at the PLTW® National headquarters and then destroyed. We will not use the ONE slide (mentioned in a previous questions) if the school does not sign the release. In that case, we would only recognize the name of the school on the website and in printed materials, at our discretion.

How is the Middle School recognized by PLTW®?

In addition to formal recognition in writing, the school will be:

• Awarded a banner with the PLTW® logo and Middle School School of Excellence on it
• Recognized on the PLTW® website
• Recognized in our newsletter, at conferences, and during training, if the school signs a release
• Link the PLTW® website to the SOE Middle/Junior High School website. If one does not exist, PLTW® hopes the slides/photos developed for the recognition process will serve as a beginning of a Middle/Junior High School website.
• PLTW® will also send a sample newspaper article to the school for its use.