BASE, South Florida's STEM Ecosystem, relies on partnerships with a diverse membership that includes government, higher ed, corporations, non-profit organizations, and others. BCPS has convened a STEM Advisory Board since 2017 that served as an incubator in preparation for formalizing as BASE. BASE, as the Broward Area STEM Ecosystem, originally focused on connecting the STEM community within Broward County, the center of the tricounty South Florida community. We have realized that the county lines are blurred and the STEM ecosystem is truly the entire region.

 

There are currently more than 100 members representing business and industry partners,  philanthropic partners, nonprofit organizations, afterschool STEM providers, museums, libraries, county government (natural resources and parks), and representatives from many departments within the K-12 school districts (instruction and curriculum, Career Technical Adult and Community Education, Equity and Diversity, Afterschool Programs, Exceptional Student Education, English as a Second Language, Title 1, and Information Technology).

 

Here we highlight the diversity of a selection of a few long-term partners for STEM. Code.org, a non-profit organization that aims to encourage students of all ages to learn computer science (CS), partnered with Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) in 2013 to increase access to computer science. BCPS is currently a Regional Partner, building a regional community for CS. This includes 20 master teacher trainers and over 1,000 CS-trained K-12 teachers. In addition, more than 30 middle schools offer a high school level computer science course reaching more than 25,000 students, and more than 6,000 high school students are enrolled in CS courses at the college level. More than 70% of BCPS students enrolled in CS are under-represented minorities and approximately 40% are female.

 

BCPS partners with the county government, such as the Broward County Environmental Planning & Community Resilience Division (EPCRD). This partnership between EPCRD and BCPS began in 2006 as part of the NatureScape Broward Program. The partnership offers training for students, teachers, and BCPS staff; engages students in the development of outdoor learning gardens; conducts water conservation audits; provides resources and opportunities to participate in environmental initiatives such as the annual Broward Water Matters Day and the P3 Eco-Challenge, which rewards schools, teachers, staff, and students that demonstrate success in advancing environmental initiatives and promoting environmental stewardship. Most recently, this partnership held the first Broward Youth Climate Summit where 500 middle and high school students planned actions to support climate and conservation.

 

ITWomen’s collaboration with BCPS extends to providing Role Model Speakers to BCPS students with the goal of inspiring girls to pursue a STEM career. ITWomen delivers free Robotics & Coding Camps, providing access to underserved girls. These Summer Camps inspire girls to choose STEM pathways and result in the award of ITWomen Scholarships.

 

A higher education partner, Nova Southeastern University (NSU), has had a long-standing relationship with the district as well through collaborative efforts and partnerships between University faculty and K12 educators to support them in computer science competency. NSU will serve in an advisory capacity in the BASE and make available the time and talent of faculty in cultivating the project.

 

A guiding principle in all the partnerships comprising BASE is broadening participation in STEM, driven by equity of access to a diverse pool of authentic STEM experiences.