By Richard Bammer

Beginning this summer and for the next three years, some public school students in grades five through 12 in Solano and Contra Costa counties will learn a lot more about computer programming and robotics, thanks to a $1.8 million grant to boost teacher development.

Solano County Office of Education leaders on Wednesday announced it had received the money to enhance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) education through an alliance with the UC Davis Computing-STEM Center. Through 2018, the money will provide professional development for some 60 to 75 teachers in the two counties.

In a press release, Sandy Jessop, an assistant superintendent at SCOE, said the California Department of Education awarded the grant through the California Math and Science Partnership (CaMSP) program.

The money will be used to give math, science or career-tech teachers more strategies to increase student engagement and achievement, noted Jessop.

via SCOE receives $1.8M to boost STEM know-how in grades 5-12.