AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2021 - 35

YOU CAN FLY /
Rapid
expansion
You Can Fly curriculum
on the move
BY ALYSSA J. COBB
THE AOPA FOUNDATION You Can Fly High School Aviation STEM
Curriculum is quickly being adopted at schools across the country,
with 322 educational institutions in 44 states using the curriculum
in the 2021-2022 school year. That represents a 60-percent increase
in the number of schools and a 22-percent increase in the number of
states in which the curriculum will be taught compared to one year
ago, when 200 schools in 36 states provided it for 8,000 students.
" We are thrilled with the excitement surrounding aviation
STEM programs and with the rapid expansion of the AOPA
Foundation You Can Fly High School Aviation STEM Curriculum, "
said AOPA Foundation You Can Fly Executive Director Elizabeth
Tennyson. " Teachers love the curriculum, students love the curriculum,
and they are learning valuable lessons to help them prepare
for careers in the aviation industry. "
The science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum
features two pathways, pilot and drone. Once students have completed
the curriculum, they have learned the principles necessary
to pass FAA knowledge tests. The curriculum is funded by donations
to the AOPA Foundation and is provided free to schools.
Because of this, AOPA is reaching students from populations that
are underrepresented in aviation. In the 2020-2021 school year,
teachers and students from mid-high and high-poverty schools
accounted for 45 percent and 55 percent of participants, respectively.
In addition, 20 percent of the students were female, and 45
percent of the students were people of color.
" The program's leadership in providing academic rigor and
career preparation is evident in its impact at the state and national
levels, " said Tennyson.
In addition to receiving national accreditation, the curriculum
is also backed by state education departments, helping to fuel
its growth. Oklahoma approved the curriculum statewide for its
career technical education (CTE) aviation career pathways, while
Kansas career and technical education developers worked with
the You Can Fly team to create a statewide CTE pilot pathway.
The curriculum also can count as college credit at Florida's Polk
State College and Oregon's Portland Community College as well
as many other colleges and universities across the country.
AOPA trains and mentors educators who enroll to teach the
curriculum through professional development workshops, ongoing
teacher support, and peer interactions. Those who want to
offer the program in the 2022-2023 school year can look forward
to the availability of seven full-year high school courses in the two
pathways. alyssa.cobb@aopa.org
youcanfly.aopa.org/high-school
High school aviation STEM symposium will be presented virtually
One of the valuable professional
development opportunities is through
the 2021 AOPA Foundation High School
Aviation STEM Symposium presented
by Boeing. Because of the ongoing
COVID-19 crisis, the symposium will take
place virtually November 16. This oneday
online experience is a perfect way
to learn about the curriculum and delve
deeper into aviation STEM education.
Schools that might be interested in
offering the curriculum in a future year
should register for the symposium to
virtually network with educators who
use the curriculum, learn about career
opportunities from aviation industry
experts, and gain valuable insight into
how the program changes students' lives.
During the virtual symposium, educators
from around the country will have the
opportunity to learn as well as share
their insights, ideas, and best practices
for creating or growing aviation STEM
programs.
AOPA PILOT / November 2021
35
DAVID TULIS
http://youcanfly.aopa.org/high-school
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2021

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