The Colletonian
All eyes were recently on representatives from Colleton County’s New Tech Academy as the group was part of a statewide study on how students in poor parts of the state are working to better themselves.
Colleton County High School’s New Tech program and Scott’s Branch High School both have adopted a STEM-focused educational component into their high school curriculum: these are the New Tech approaches to education. From February 1 through February 3rd, the two schools were involved in a study hosted by the American Youth Policy Forum.
The event took place in Charleston. It was called “Advancing Equity through Deeper Learning in Rural Schools: The Journey of School Transformation.”
The entire conference ended with everyone traveling to Colleton County High School for a tour of the New Tech Campus. There, the officials also heard from New Tech students and teachers during a panel discussion.
The entire event is meant to see how students in these two schools – both of which are located in the dubbed “I-95 Corridor of Shame,” an area along Interstate 95 where poverty is high – are working to improve their students’ educations.
“These two STEM-focused New Tech schools will graduate their first classes in 2017. The schools utilize four design pillars: culture that empowers students and teachers, project-based learning, a broad use of technology and school-wise ‘deeper learning’ student outcomes,” as stated in a press release on the event. “Additionally, dual enrollment with college courses and engagement with regional employers are helping to advance equity and opportunity for students …,” the press release states.