Sci@OC Gets United Way Grant That Helps Bring Science Literacy to SAUSD Middle Schools

The Blue Marble - Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
The Blue Marble - Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
The Blue Marble – Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Hot off the press, a $32,000 grant from the United Way will go to help students in Santa Ana’s middle schools become more science literate.  Details are below: 

SANTA ANA, Calif. – December 10, 2014 – Science@OC, the Orange County non-profit dedicated to strengthening science education in Orange County’s middle schools, announced that it has received a $32,000 grant from United Way.

The grant will support Science@OC efforts with public school districts to implement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). United Way’s funding will be directed toward helping teachers integrate engineering design and cross-cutting concepts across the science disciplines.  This aligns with Science@OC’s mission to bring scientific literacy to Orange County middle school students, specifically to the Santa Ana Unified School District.

“It has been exciting to see the improvement in middle school science in the Santa Ana School District,” said Sue Neuen, Science@OC’s executive director. “With this funding for the NGSS implementation, we anticipate even greater strides toward science literacy among students in the critical middle school years.”

“Science engages and encourages students to think critically and logically,” said Sergio Contreras, Senior Education Manager, Orange County United Way.  “We are proud to partner with Science@OC because we know the work they are engaged in encourages students to explore solutions.  By building upon foundation skills, students are better able to answer complex questions, investigate global issues and develop solutions for challenges and real-world problems. Often these kinds of challenges help to spark interest in STEM fields for students who would otherwise not have exposure to these kinds of 21st century resources.”

Science@OC, a fiscally sponsored project of OneOC, partners with Orange County educators to develop scientifically literate students, and engages the Orange County community to inspire students to pursue STEM careers.  Visit the Science@OC website at www.scienceoc.org for more information.

United Way, as part of its 10-year program, aims to improve education and decrease the amount of high school drop-outs by half every year by 2018. The organization targets young adults as a part of their program in order to create a better community and workforce in the future. Visit United Way’s “Goals for the Common Good, the United Way Challenge to America” report for more information.