Evaluating STEM Education in the U.S. Secondary Schools: Pros and Cons of the Project Lead the Way Platform

Starting in 1990-s, the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program became one of the most known and favorable interdisciplinary STEM platforms in K-12 education in the United States. Moving away from the traditional classroom, PLTW focuses on the integration of several subjects into one. It includes various hands-on-activities that, according to PLTW mission, help to develop deeper practical hands-on skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In nowadays, PLTW is a nationally recognized curriculum, which offers many opportunities for teachers, as well as students, developing engineering skills and preparing the youth for college and upcoming STEM-oriented carriers. However, despite of its popularity, various factors (such as the cost of PLTW equipment, supplies, and software, as well as support of school administration) might significantly influence quality of PLTW teaching.