Gateway To Technology® National Recognition Program Questions and Answers

Is the National Recognition program connected to 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 a Pathway To Engineering™ program and offers transcripted college credit, as an option, at participating national affiliates.
• The PLTW® Gateway To Technology® National Recognition program recognizes the excellence found in the integration of mathematics, science, and technology and offers local and national recognition.
  

If the district does not offer the PLTW® Pathway To Engineering™ program in a high school or if the high school has already been certified, may the Gateway To Technology® program still receive National Recognition?

Yes.

If our high school has received PLTW® certification, is our GTT® program also included?

No. The high school is a separate program.

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

The National Recognition program and the PLTW® certifications are two different programs. In the junior high school, you would apply for both programs.

How is the process begun?

The principal or teacher downloads the GTT® Recognition Checklist, PLTW® standard release form and the GTT® Recognition Self-Assessment Form from the PLTW® website. The Recognition Checklist provides an overview of the process. The Self-Assessment Form and the release form are returned to Project Lead The Way, Inc. along with a check for $150.00 to:

Coordinator of Quality Initiatives
Gateway To Technology® National Recognition Program
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
747 Pierce Road
Clifton Park, New York 12065

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

Yes. PLTW® will be asking for information on the following: Is the GTT® program available to all students? Is there teaming across core content disciplines that includes GTT® trained teachers? Does the school conduct visits to the high school PLTW® program, where one exists, to introduce it to the students? Are parents and college/industry offered opportunities to visit the GTT® program and see student work? Has the wider school community been made aware of the Gateway To Technology® program through newsletters, newspaper articles, or Open Houses?

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 GTT 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 National Recognition?

PLTW® requires that the school convene a committee to receive the Gateway To Technology® program and to complete the self-assessment. The committee would include the following: the principal or designee, school counselor, parent, and a member of the community, such as an engineer. Schools are required to include at least two students, one female and one male, in the self-assessment process and the collection of visuals.

Is there a fee for the National Recognition process?

Yes. The fee is $150.00.

How long does the National Recognition last?

Because the Gateway To Technology® program will be expanded, the National Recognition lasts for five years. Schools are encouraged to consider reapplying, following a shorter process, each five years.

Why is there a visual component in the process?

Many schools develop slide and photo presentations to demonstrate the Gateway To Technology® program to students, parents, and the community. PLTW® is requesting electronic copies of these visuals for possible inclusion on its website, in PLTW® presentations, and/or in its newsletter to recognize the school’s GTT® program. As part of the application packet, PLTW® will provide a release form. Visuals should 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 teacher.

How many visuals (Power Point® slides and/or digital pictures) may be sent electronically?

As a general guideline, PLTW® would like to see one digital picture from each of the four units; students would appear engaged in some aspect of the units. Each should be numbered with the activity and student(s) identified. Additional slides/ pictures may include information about the Gateway To Technology® 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 application be submitted electronically?

PLTW® encourages electronic submission; however, we would be happy to accept the assessment/slides on a disk, along with a paper copy. 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 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 slides if the school does not sign the release. In that case, we would not recognize the name of the school on the website and in printed materials, at our discretion.

How is the school recognized by Project Lead The Way®?

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

• Awarded a banner with the PLTW® logo and “School of Excellence” on it.
• Recognized on the PLTW® website.
• Recognized in our newsletter, at conferences, and during training, if the school signs the release.
• Provided with a sample newspaper article to the school for its use.