Kid Spark’s hands-on STEM learning programs will be part of a new initiative at YMCA Buffalo Niagara, made possible through a partnership between YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) and General Motors (GM).
This initiative is focused on expanding access to high-quality STEM education in rural communities, and YMCA Buffalo Niagara is one of five locations nationwide selected to participate.
Rural students generally have less access to STEM educational opportunities than their urban or suburban peers, and these opportunity gaps translate into losses of talent across generations.
Kid Spark’s STEM programs will be used at YMCA Buffalo Niagara to provide engaging, hands-on learning experiences that build foundational STEM skills in young learners in grades Pre-K through 4th.
The pilot program, set to kick off in September following an in-person training session hosted by Kid Spark experts, will help inform a national roadmap for rural STEM education. Y-USA and GM will gather data and feedback from all five rural sites to produce a comprehensive report with recommendations for scaling and sustaining impactful STEM programs. With Kid Spark’s research-backed curriculum in place, Buffalo students will gain exposure to hands-on STEM learning that builds academic and workforce readiness.
Kid Spark Education is proud to support this effort and to play a role in shaping a stronger future for rural communities across the country. This partnership affirms what we at Kid Spark have always believed: when you give students access to STEM early and often, they will rise to meet the challenge, no matter their zip code.
Join Us
For more information about Kid Spark Education, visit kidsparkeducation.org.
If you’d like to partner with us to expand access to STEM education, whether in your community or across the country, please contact us at partner@kidsparkeducation.org.
