CLSBA Unity Conference

BUSD has leveraged CTE Pathways as a means to address the equity gap in STEM fields. The CTE "Diversifying the STEM Career Pipeline" initiative is focused on aligning our Middle School STEM curriculum with the established CTE STEM Pathways at Berkeley High School, providing early exploration of high school STEM pathway curriculum, technology, tools, and related careers beginning in the 6th grade -with a very deliberate focus on students from populations underrepresented in STEM careers most specifically, African American and Latino/a/x students.

This work is involves partnership and collaboration on multiple levels both internal and external. Internally we are supporting professional development and curriculum alignment across our 3 Middle School CTE STEM teams and vertical alignment between our Middle Schools and Berkeley High School. This includes targeted support for student transitions from middle to high school and recruitment into Hispanic and Black Engineering Society chapter at BHS. External partnerships include the Berkeley Public School Fund, The City of Berkeley Youth Equity Partnership, state funding for career technical education and philanthropic partnerships with Bayer and Wareham Development as well as support from our Labor and Industry partners through our Career Technical Education Advisory Committee.

BUSD will share the evolution of this work including strategies to build a continuum of program and support from 6th grade to high school. This workshop will also include and overview of BUSD’s strategies to expand enrollment, maximize internal and community partnerships and how we envision continued support for this important work.