Project Lead The Way

Project Lead The Way is a nonprofit organization that develops and delivers project-based curriculum to over 3,000 schools nationwide (in all 50 states).  The objective of the program is to strengthen student foundation in science and engineering by providing relevant and rigorous courses.  PLTW course methodology teaches students how to apply what they learn to real-life situations.

LEED's Implementation of the PLTW Network

Our Goals are to:

  • Increase the number of young people, without regard to gender or ethnic origin, who pursue science, engineering and technology-related careers.

  • Increase females and underrepresented groups entering science, engineering and technology-related careers.

  • Provide relevant programs that help prepare students for a highly skilled working environment.

  • Develop assessment tools to evaluate the success of PLTW in the Sacramento region.

  • Support the development of all teachers, and counselors.

  • Increase the value of PLTW in the Sacramento region by enhancing the image and visibility by our effectiveness and results.

Our Value:

  • Manage implementation of PLTW in Sacramento region.

  • Assist in growth of PLTW to additional schools.

  • Facilitate two-way flow of information (between schools and PLTW National).

  • Streamline communications helping to avoid frustration of partners.

  • Follow-up on critical issues (reimbursements, grant tracking and reporting, etc.).

  • Ensure compliance with PLTW requirements (e.g. conferences, training, tracking).

  • Increase visibility of PLTW in the region.

Please click here to download an overview of the Sacramento Region Project Lead the Way Network.

Educational Development Committee

The Educational Development Committee oversees LEED's activities to "align educational resources to meet current and future workforce needs."  In this regard, the committee:

Identifies and implements education programs that support the economic development of the region (e.g. summer externships for teachers, curriculum to support STEM careers, etc.).

Works with industry partners to identify additional curriculum and educational delivery models that support workforce needs.

Our Value:

Bring together disparate viewpoints to form a coalesced position on areas of key importance to our region (e.g. CTE Whitepaper).

Identify issues that can impact education's ability to support economic development in the Sacramento region.

Create awareness of programs that can provide opportunities for developing a strong regional workforce (e.g. Multiple Pathways).


High School Redesign

Since 2001, LEED has served as an intermediary between the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Foundation, managing grants that created six small theme-based high schools and 36 small learning communities.

SCUSD recently launched a secondary Multiple Pathways initiative that will serve to broaden and deepen the e21 high school redesign by creating well-articulated career pathways from middle school through post-secondary in various industry sectors. The 6 small high schools are an essential component, especially those with well-developed themes such as Health Professions High School, School of Engineering and Sciences, and New Technology High School. Other small high schools created by the Gates Foundation grant include: The Met-Sacramento High School, George Washington Carver School of Arts & Science, and Genesis High School.

Through Multiple Pathways, LEED plans to continue supporting SCUSD, especially in the areas of business-school partnership building, work-based learning, and career development that will contribute to the success of the schools and the economic success of the region.

For more information about LEED's Educational Development opportunities, please contact Linda Christopher at lchristopher@leed.org.