Our newest policy brief features an innovative program with Arkansas roots that seeks to prepare students for both post-secondary opportunities and their future careers. The story of the EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) Initiative begins with an Arkansas educator who wanted to connect his students’ learning to real-life experiences. Through this vision, the EAST Initiative was born. Today, the EAST model combines project-based learning, technology, and community service with a STEM focus. EAST programs have been implemented throughout the state of Arkansas and have even expanded into other states. Below is a map of states that currently using the EAST model.
Our policy brief describes the EAST model in more detail, including the newest addition to the EAST family, EAST Core, which is a part of Governor Beebe’s STEM Works Initiative and integrates the EAST model into core high school classes such as biology, geometry and chemistry. Furthermore, our policy brief highlights EAST programs across the state of Arkansas including Hot Springs High School’s EAST program and Sonora Elementary’s EAST program in the Springdale School District.
This year’s OEP conference on May 15, 2014 at the Clinton Center, will kick off with a presentation by the Executive Director of EAST, Matt Dozier. You can attend this presentation to find out more about EAST and how to bring the model to your school. Registration information for the conference can be found here. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the conversation about how Arkansas can best prepare her students for higher education and entering the workforce.
