Computer Requirements

• School districts and nonprofit organizations in partnership with school districts or schools are eligible to compete for nearly $150 million.
• Grant awards will be made to those with the strongest proposals for expanding promising or effective educational practices to improve learning for high-need students.

The 2012 Scale-up and Validation competitions will fund projects across five priority areas including promoting STEM education.

• Pre-applications for i3 Development grants are due April 9.
• Applications for the Scale-up and Validation grants are due May 29.
• Peer reviewers will determine the highest rated applicants in all three categories.
• The highest rated applicants will be announced in the fall. Awards will be announced no later than December 31, 2012.

Download the Scale-up Application Package

Download the Validation Application Package

Learn more about the i3 Fund

Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

Presidential awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States, a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

Currently K-6 science and mathematics teachers are eligible to be nominated.

• Principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public may nominate exceptional mathematics and science teachers.
• You must do so by Sunday, April 1.
• The nomination form is short and only asks for basic information about your nominee and his or her school.
• Teachers may also nominate themselves.
• Nominated teachers have until May 1 to complete the application.

To nominate a teacher or nominate yourself for the award, go to PAESMT.org.

During this time, PLTW is transitioning its warehouse operations from New York to our new headquarters in Indiana.

Orders for products shipped by PLTW that were received after March 19 will be shipped next week.

These items include:

• fischertechnik Kits
• FPGA Boards
• Boe-Bots
• Fetal Dopplers
• Alt Energy Upgrade Kits

Products shipped directly to schools by suppliers will not be affected.

If you have any questions, please contact our School Support team.

If your school submitted a Student Population File, you should expect to see your students in the Student Assessment System when it opens on April 23. At that time, you can login and create your class(es).

For general student assessment questions, contact assessment@pltw.org. For all questions regarding the Student Assessment System, including technical support, contact assessment_techsupport@pltw.org.

Teachers can login to the PLTW Extranet and click “Professional Development” on the left side to register.

For New PLTW Programs in 2012-13

• For a teacher to register for Core Training, the teacher’s School District will need to have completed and submitted a signed STEM Agreement.

For New PLTW Teachers in 2012-13

• The teacher’s School District Delegate will need to register that teacher with PLTW online before the teacher can sign up for Core Training.

A couple of other reminders:

• Teachers from a state that is home to a PLTW University Affiliate will need to attend the Core Training session at that site. In the event the necessary Core Training is not offered (or is full) within their state, teachers may attend Core Training at any University Affiliate.
• In the event the Core Training schedule conflicts with the teacher’s availability, the teacher will need to contact the state’s University Affiliate to receive authorization to attend Core Training at an alternate University Affiliate.

Teachers will need to successfully complete a Core Training Readiness Assessment for the course(s) they wish to instruct before signing up for a Core Training session. Login to the Virtual Academy to take your assessment.

If you have any questions about registering for a Core Training session, contact our School Support team.

• February 15: Core Training readiness assessments are open. Teachers are required to successfully complete this assessment for the course they wish to instruct in order to register for a Core Training session.
• March 1: Core Training Instructor assignments will be posted.
• March 15: Equipment and supply lists will be posted to the Affiliate Director section of the Virtual Academy. This release date has been moved to March to ensure proper equipment selection based on new training offering needs and curriculum updates.
• March 15: Core Training registration opens.
• May 15: Core Training materials will be posted to the Affiliate Director section of the Virtual Academy.

The PLTW Professional Development team looks forward to an outstanding 2012 Core Training experience for teachers and University Affiliates. If you have any questions about professional development or core training, contact Laura Greenaway or Bryan Kind.

Each previously purchased GTT kit will need the following:

• Advanced Mechanics and Motion kit (276-2045)
• Linear Motion Kit (276-1926)

Each previously purchased POE kit will need the following:

• Winch and Pulley Kit (276-1546)
• Linear Motion Kit (276-1926)

Also, as we continue the transition to VEX Robotics equipment, all VEX Robotics kits that were purchased by PLTW and sent to affiliate training sites in preparation for last year’s Core Training will receive the kit upgrades described above.

These kit upgrades will be shipped to affiliate training sites starting March 5. If you have any questions related to the Core Training VEX Robotics kit requirements, contact Laura Greenaway or Bryan Kind.

For years, many have inquired about a central site to order standard PLTW goods like t-shirts, sweatshirts, polo shirts, dress shirts, as well as gift items.

ShopPLTW.org has it all.

From clothing and accessories to office products and even lab coats, all items come with the PLTW logo and are budget friendly.

The site is a great place to purchase polo shirts for summer training. We will work with University Affiliates to add your logo to the polo shirt as well. Contact Jennifer Cahill with any questions.

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

3939 Priority Way South Drive, Suite 200

Indianapolis, IN 46240

Also, the new local phone number is (317) 669-0200 and the new telefax number is (317) 663-8296. Our toll-free phone number (1-877-335-PLTW) and all email addresses remain the same.