EDUCATION CONNECTION, the regional education service center in western Connecticut, announces the receipt of a $900,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support the Connecticut Pathways to Innovation Project (CPI). CPI is a three-year, multi-phased educational opportunity for underrepresented students to develop 21st Century workforce skills in emerging technologies. Participating school districts include Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Norwalk, Plymouth, Region 1, and Region 15. The goal of this exciting project is to increase the number of youth who pursue technical career programs at the Connecticut College of Technology and Connecticut four-year post secondary institutions. The Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION will partner with the IBM Corporation, the Connecticut College of Technology, the Connecticut Office for Workforce Competitiveness, and the Connecticut Technology Council to implement the CPI project.

The project provides students with a wide range of articulated courses and real-life learning experiences. Students will be equipped with skill sets to enter the workforce of the 21st Century knowledge economy. Courses are designed with both a face-to-face and on-line component. An extensive online support system is available to high school students and teachers. Throughout the program science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals work directly with students and teachers.

Courses, developed by the Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION, are disseminated through the Connecticut Career Choices initiative and accessible via Connecticut Education Network (CEN), a high-speed, fiber-optic education network that connects school districts and post-secondary institutions. Proposed courses include: Biotechnology; Innovation, Research & Development; Nanotechnology Research & Development; Rapid Prototyping & Next Generation Manufacturing; and, Robotics Science and Engineering.