Academy The STEAM at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.
*In the American school system, charter schools are private schools (primary or secondary) that enjoy a special status of autonomy, linked to a mixed funding system to which public and private funds contribute.
For seventy-two years, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History has introduced children to the wonders of the world around them. Founded in 1941, it operated early on programs dedicated to the learning of young children by creating its first program called the “Frisky and Blossom Club.” Today, its Museum School continues to be a national model for informal science education.
During this last period, marked by continuous closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum expanded its educational services. Among the various initiatives activated, the most significant was the creation of the Little Scholars program to use the museum’s exhibition space to support virtual learning.
Data collected in education programs monitored by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History have shown that children who receive early intervention through safe and interesting educational programs develop better social skills, critical thinking skills, and increase their performance in school. Second, structured educational programs such as little scholars are able to reduce the negative impacts of distance learning.
Due to the success of this program, the museum has decided to commit to and open in the fall of 2023 the STEAM Academy: a charter school that makes the museum eligible to receive state funding allocated for innovation and allow students to attend the new school free of charge.
The new project will be able to accompany students from kindergarten to fifth grade in their learning within the museum spaces with the aim of:
- Providing formal primary education that meets the need for early intervention in learning;
- Encourage students to explore, imagine and investigate using the museum’s scientific samples, historical artifacts, technology and exhibits;
- Provide learning opportunities for college students studying to become the teachers of tomorrow;
- To nurture the next generation of museum visitors, members and donors, and perhaps the next generation of museum staff.
To find out more about the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History project, you can read the in-depth discussion here.
