Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 581 - OREGON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Division 17 - STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS
Section 581-017-0335 - Definitions and Establishment of STEM Lab Schools
Universal Citation: OR Admin Rules 581-017-0335
Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) The following definitions apply to 581-017-0335 TO 581-017-0347:
(a)
"Achievement Gap" means the gap in achievement (state test scores in science
and mathematics as well as postsecondary degree attainment in STEM) that often
exists between students who are economically disadvantaged, students learning
English as a second language, African American, Hispanic or Native American
compared to their peers.
(b)
"Authentic Problem-Based Learning" means using real world questions, problems,
and tasks - often drawn from local community issues and industries - as the
focus to drive the learning experiences, deepen understanding, and developing
rich contextual connections across a variety of STEM and non-STEM
disciplines.
(c) "Career and
Technical Education (CTE)" is a comprehensive educational program for students
based on industry needs. CTE includes coursework in areas such as health care,
engineering, and computer science.
(d) "Community Engagement" means a broad
collaboration and participation between multiple sectors of the community for
the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources to identify local
needs and contribute to larger conversations on visioning planning which may
include, but not limited to parent groups and advocacy groups, industry and
STEM agencies, economic and workforce groups, student input, and
educators.
(e) "Effective STEM
Instruction" means the use of evidence-based practices that support
interconnected, relevant STEM instruction as stated in definition number
fourteen.
(f) "Effective STEM
Leadership" means identifying schools, school districts, postsecondary
institutions, business & industry, student-focused nonprofits and community
leadership to support implementing and improving STEM teaching and learning in
addition to creating a culture that fosters STEM learning with evidence-based
resources. Effective STEM leadership develops an understanding of what
effective and interconnected STEM education looks like in the classroom and
supports the development of learning environments that empower educators to
implement innovative STEM education approaches.
(g) "Effective STEM Learning Environments"
means supporting student interaction with STEM education during formal and
informal settings in ways that promote deeper understanding of real-world
concepts. Such learning environments must engage all students in solving
complex problems, using highly interactive learning opportunities that create
new opportunities for STEM learning across the core curriculum.
(h) "Oregon Equity Lens" means the equity
lens as defined in OAr 581-017-0010.
(i) "Postsecondary Institution" means:
(A) A community college operated under ORS
Chapter 341.
(B) The following
public universities within the Higher Education Coordinating Council:
(i) University of Oregon.
(ii) Oregon State University.
(iii) Portland State University.
(iv) Oregon Institute of
Technology.
(v) Western Oregon
University.
(vi) Southern Oregon
University.
(vii) Eastern Oregon
University.
(viii) Oregon Health
and Science University.
(C) An Oregon-based, generally accredited,
not-for-profit institution of higher education.
(j) "Regional STEM Hub" means a commitment of
a group of key stakeholders from different sectors such as, but not limited to
school districts, informal education providers, postsecondary institutions,
business & industry, student-focused nonprofits, students, families,
community members and policy makers to advance state and local educational
goals related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and career &
technical education (CTE).
(k)
"School" means a public middle school, high school, community college, or
postsecondary institution offering a comprehensive instructional program. A
school may include a discreet comprehensive instructional program within a
larger school or college.
(l)
"Statewide STEM Network" means a supportive collaboration between and across
Regional STEM Hubs to share knowledge, expertise, insights, and leadership to
assist other communities in their efforts to create similar STEM
partnerships.
(m) "STEAM Education"
means the incorporation of strategies to enhance science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by integrating art and design, and
promoting creative possibilities.
(n) "STEM Education" means an approach to
teaching and lifelong learning that emphasizes the natural interconnectedness
of the four separate STEM disciplines which mirrors the practices and rich
contexts of STEM practitioners. Developing and deepening content knowledge and
skills in science and mathematics is the foundation of STEM teaching and
learning. The natural connections among science, mathematics and STEM are made
explicit through collaboration between educators resulting in authentic and
appropriate context built into instruction, curriculum, and assessment. The
common element of problem solving is emphasized across all STEM disciplines
allowing students to discover, explore, and apply critical thinking skills as
they learn.
(o) "STEM Lab School"
means to establish a school that has a student-centered school culture of
inquiry with meaningful and authentic learning environments that integrate STEM
and/or STEAM education aligned with state, national and industry standards.
This cutting-edge learning center will deepen connections between other
educational institutions, business, industry, out-of-school educators, and the
local community to create and promote STEM career pathways for students. An
intentional focus of a lab school is to support the professional learning of
current and future educators, the implementation of innovative education
models, and educational research in a manner that increases knowledge and
capacity of systems and institutions beyond the school itself.
(p) "STEM Practitioners" refers to
individuals engaged in STEM-related professions such as but not limited to,
natural resources management, high-tech manufacturing and product development,
information technology, industrial design, health sciences, software,
scientific research, engineering, data analytics, etc.
(q) "Student-Focused Nonprofits" means an
organization that meets all of the following requirements:
(A) Is established as a nonprofit
organization under the laws of Oregon;
(B) Qualifies as an exempt organization under
section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code as defined in ORS
314.011; and
(C) Is focused on providing services to
students or educators whose goal or mission is focused on improving student
outcomes in STEM education.
(r) "Underserved Students" are students whom
systems have placed at risk because of their race, ethnicity, English language
proficiency, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, differently
abled, or geographic location.
(s)
"Underrepresented Students" in STEM are from demographic groups whose
representation in STEM fields and industries does not mirror regional and
national focus populations specifically, women, African American, Native
American, Hispanic and Pacific Islander students which systems have provided
insufficient or inadequate balance of opportunity.
(2) The STEM Lab Schools Grant is established as part of the Connecting to the World of Work Program.
(3) The purpose of the STEM Lab School Grant is to:
(a) Engage middle school, high school
and/or community college students in authentic, inquiry-based learning
environments that increase experiential learning opportunities focused on
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and
design-related industries to improve, enhance, and enrich students'
problem-solving capabilities and to foster 21st Century Skills.
(b) Address ongoing access, opportunity,
interest and attainment gaps for underserved and underrepresented students in
STEM and design-related industries consistent with the Equity Lens.
(c) Promote more effective STEM and
design-related industries instructional practices consistent with Common Core
State Standards, Oregon State Science Standards and Oregon State Arts Standards
by offering educator professional learning opportunities.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 327.800
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 327.820
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Oregon may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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