Wise Readers to Leaders’ Science and the Arts Initiative

K-12 STEAM education

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), a stark achievement gap exists between low-income students and their more affluent peers in math and science. The 2023 Smarter Balanced Test Results reveal that only 24.66% of low-income students met or exceeded the standard in Math, compared to 56.01% of their not economically disadvantaged peers. The gap is even wider in Science, with only 18.13% of economically disadvantaged students meeting the standard, compared to 53.51% of their peers.
This is problematic for many reasons:
Educational Inequity: The gap highlights pervasive educational inequity, limiting academic and career opportunities.
Long-term Socioeconomic Impact: Underperformance in math and science hinders students' chances of pursuing higher education and well-paying jobs, perpetuating disparities.
Resource Allocation: There is a need for better resource allocation and interventions to support low-income students, such as increased funding and support staff.

The "Science and the Arts" initiative by Wise Readers to Leaders is a comprehensive, innovative, and equitable approach to STEAM education in Los Angeles. Holistic Educational Approach
-Enhances creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
-Makes STEM subjects more accessible and engaging, especially for students less inclined toward traditional STEM subjects.
Targeted Support for Underserved Communities
-Ensures historically underserved children have opportunities to thrive, helping promote social equity.
-Involves local community through events and parent participation, fostering community ties.
Leveraging Local Resources and Expertise
-Utilizes Los Angeles' world-class science and arts institutions to provide unique and inspiring learning experiences. Offers field trips and collaborations with local institutions, making concepts more practical and meaningful.
Comprehensive and Sustainable Program Structure
-Ensures continuous learning and sustained interest through a phased approach.
-Focuses on staff training and resource organization for a well-prepared and sustainable program.
-Emphasizes hands-on activities in weekly classes and summer camps, fostering deeper understanding and retention of concepts.
Data-Driven and Outcome-Oriented
-Includes a final phase for measuring success through assessments and surveys, allowing for continuous improvement. Showcases results to stakeholders, ensuring ongoing support and funding.

Our scholars from underserved communities will achieve higher literacy and STEAM proficiency, reflected in better test scores and classroom performance, leading to higher graduation rates. This will help close the achievement gap leading to long-term socio-economic benefits. The community events and parent involvement in this initiative will foster more active participation in education, strengthening community ties and supporting our scholar's continued growth.
As scholars achieve academic success, the credibility and effectiveness of our STEAM program will be reinforced. This success will attract more funding and support, allowing us to expand our initiatives to reach more K-8 scholars from traditionally underserved communities.

Scholar participants will show increased interest in STEAM and there will be marked improvements in literacy and STEAM proficiency. These advancements will be reflected in higher test scores and better classroom performance. Improved academic outcomes will lead to increased graduation rates.
Regular surveys of scholars will help us understand their experiences, challenges, and successes, allowing us to fine-tune our programs for maximum impact. Parent surveys will provide insights into how we can better support families and enhance their involvement in their children's education. This ongoing feedback loop will ensure our initiatives remain relevant, effective, and responsive to the needs of the community.