SW Oklahoma ARPA Regional Alliance - Lawton Public Schools

PROJECT PURPOSE

This project will develop a school facility focused upon cyber technology and engineering. It will help prepare students for careers in cyber security and engineering. It will be directly related to our new Fires Innovation and Technology Accelerator (FISTA), being supported by the FISTA through funding and access to real world technology and engineers, and then supporting the FISTA with a well-educated local workforce. It will allow students to learn from leaders in STEM education (like the defense industry). It will support capstone projects at our high schools, GPTC and Cameron University. Lawton has been recognized by the Oklahoma Legislature for excellence in STEM education opportunities within Lawton Public Schools (LPS).

EVIDENCE

Lawton has been recognized by the Oklahoma Legislature for excellence in STEM education opportunities within Lawton Public Schools (LPS). LPS had both the National STEM High School of the Year and the National STEM Teacher of the Year. This project will expand on those successes by providing a centralized facility necessary to expand STEM curriculum at all levels of education.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

While Southwest Oklahoma continues to work very hard to improve conditions for our citizens, we continue to struggle with poverty and decline. With 18.5% of our population in poverty and only 45% of our households in owner occupied homes. Our median household income of just less than $48,000 is more than 10% below that of the state. Lawton is a very diverse, inclusive and progressive community, but we lack the resources to create the kind of community improvement projects that can move us economically to the next level. Southwestern Oklahoma has felt impact of the pandemic through stagnant revenues and significantly increasing costs due to supply delays and labor shortage. Being somewhat isolated from the region's larger metropolitan communities, Lawton serves as the hub for students needing advanced STEM courses.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Participation in STEM classes and programs can be measured directly. In addition math and science ACT scores can be tracked for an upward trend.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

LPS receives state funding on an annual basis.This proj will not increase the need for state fundin

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Not able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma