The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education unveiled a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Asset Map – http://www.gasteammap.org/. This tool provides a visual depiction of where investments in STEM and STEAM education exist across Georgia to give those interested in supporting STEAM an idea of where investments are needed or where other investments or activity exists that they could support. 

The map includes information on out-of-school time opportunities for students or parents looking for a way to engage with STEAM education and enhance students’ learning in these areas. Teachers may find it useful to filter data by different demographic characteristics of school populations or by different levels of student achievement. This would allow them to find comparable schools to their own which will facilitate networking among schools that are already STEM or STEAM certified and those seeking to be. 

“We developed this tool to provide the business and philanthropic communities with a visualization of the current landscape of STEAM investment in Georgia,” said Dr. Steve Dolinger, president of the Georgia Partnership. “It is our hope that this map will drive further investment into STEM and STEAM education, as well as connect schools and students with opportunities to enhance their endeavors in these areas.” 

Features of the STEAM Asset Map

• STEAM Certified Schools (currently 5)

• STEM Certified Schools (currently 54)Out of School Opportunities for students to engage with STEM or STEAM education (currently over 500)

• Grants that have been made across the state in support of STEM/STEAM education (currently over 200)

• Georgia public schools and student achievement data for each in STEM subjects (currently over 2,000)

• Multiple layers, including the following:
  

  • Schools: Information on all Georgia public schools, including demographic information of the school and neighborhood, student achievement in STEM fields, and whether those schools have been STEM or STEAM certified by the Georgia Department of Education.

  • Out of School Opportunities: Opportunities for students to participate in STEM or STEAM activities outside of school, including where these activities are located and when they take place. These opportunities were reported by partner organizations and through self-reporting, and we present them with no judgment as to the quality of each. Please contact individual programs for more information.

  • Grants: Philanthropic investments in STEM and STEAM throughout the state.

  • Tract Conditions: Filters indicating the concentration throughout the state of the following:

    • Children below 200% of the Poverty Line

    • Families below the Poverty Line

    • Local Conditions Index

“We are always looking for ways to help our STEM and STEAM schools network with other schools across the state,” said Felicia Cullars, Georgia STEM/STEAM Program Specialist. “The development of this map will provide a way for schools seeking STEM or STEAM certification to connect and collaborate throughout their journey.”