Van Buren schools in ‘STEM Works’ program

The Van Buren Public School District was named one of 15 Arkansas school districts to receive funding as the first schools in Gov. Mike Beebe’s “STEM Works” initiative.

Beebe and his Workforce Cabinet announced Aug. 16 the pilot program — STEM Works — focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education in high schools and universities.

The purpose of the program to to help ensure that the state’s workforce will be able to meet the escalating demand for employees in high-tech fields. Another project goal is equipping Arkansas colleges with the tools they need to better educate future K-12 teachers in these core subjects.

STEM Works specifically seeks to overhaul the ways in which Arkansas high school students receive STEM education and to increase the number of well-qualified STEM teachers.