National Academy Foundation and Project Lead The Way Establish Partnership

Project Lead The Way has established a partnership with the National Academy Foundation (NAF) to create a framework for the cooperative development of a Career Academy Model for Engineering and Engineering Technology. This unique relationship will enhance the education and training of high school students in pre-engineering and engineering technology study and increase the number of minority students electing to pursue careers in these fields.

As a significant resource, NAF has unique capabilities in the development and implementation of Career Academies in specialized subjects that will provide an enhanced structure for the delivery of curricula to students in engineering and engineering technology.

PLTW’s acknowledged strength is in curriculum development and program implementation for pre-engineering and engineering technology studies with over 900 schools in the PLTW Network of Schools. In addition, PLTW is an avenue by which programs may be established to assist in the involvement and full participation of all ethnic groups in meeting critical manpower needs in engineering and technology.

Under the agreement, PLTW and NAF will create a collaborative model for joint development of the Academy in pre-engineering and engineering technology. Key components of the PLTW curriculum development and professional development will be incorporated in the development of the Academy.

“This joint venture between PLTW and NAF will incorporate our strengths in the development of a new model, the Career Academy. Some schools may elect to be enrolled in the PLTW Network, while others may elect the Career Academy model. In either case, both PLTW and NAF are addressing the nation’s need to involve minorities into challenging engineering and engineering technology programs,” says Richard Blais, Executive Director of PLTW.