What is Core Element?

Core Element is a regional collaborative effort among K12 and higher education, economic development, and business and industry institutions committed to improving the caliber of math and science education in our schools.

Core Element provides:

• Essential professional development training for K-12 science and math teachers

• Hands-on kits encouraging discovery learning experiences in the classroom

• Support for out-of-classroom enrichment activities such as science fairs and robotics competitions

Core Element’s 2010 Summer Professional Development included workshops on Modeling Instruction in Chemistry and Physics and an Elementary STEM Institute for teachers in grades 3-6 and Modeling Method of Instruction in Physics and Chemistry for grades 8 to12.

Over 60 teachers from Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes dedicated part of their summer to participate in the STEM workshops.  With funding support from Baptist Community Ministries, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Delta Section, and Shell Oil Company, the 2010 program expanded to offer training to teachers from the six parishes in the Greater New Orleans area.

Why Is Core Element Important?

Nationwide, K-12 students are not obtaining proficiency in science and math which is critical to maintain a solid STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) workforce in America.

• 80% of jobs created over the next decade will call for substantial  math and science skills

• Less than 30% of students are graduating with proficiency in math and science topics.  In New Orleans, that number drops to less than 20%

• High School graduates’ proficiency in science is declining

• Over 50% of students receive instruction in science or math from a teacher without a degree in that field

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Report, 2005.