CHRHS STEM Endorsement

STEM ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Strand 1: Academic-Science & Math

Standards A & C

Strand 2: Academic- Technology & Engineering

Standards B & C

Strand 3: Extension

Standards A/B (based on individual interest) and C

Strand 4: Culminating Project

Standards A, B, C, & D

STRAND 1: Academic: Science/Math: (Standards A & C)

Student Accomplishments:

  • Students must meet the 4 credit graduation requirement in math and complete 4 credits of science with an overall average grade in all required courses of at least 85%.

  • Alternate student-generated proposals that satisfy Standards A and C may be approved by the SCE Review Committee on a case by case basis. (see form below)

Documentation: official copy of student transcript or evidence of satisfactory completion of student-generated proposal.

STRAND 2: Academic: Technology/Engineering (Standards B & C)

Student Accomplishments:

  • Students must earn at least two total credits that have not already been applied to Strand 1 (with an overall final grade of at least 85% in these courses) across technology and engineering disciplines, from the available SCE-approved courses. Students must earn at least 0.5 credits in engineering and 0.5 credits in technology.

  • The following SCE-approved courses will satisfy this requirement:

  • Engineering Courses

    • Intro to Engineering

    • Principles of Engineering and Pre-Engineering (MCST)

    • Programming

    • Web Design

  • Technology classes

    • any Industrial Arts courses: welding, woodworking, drafting, CAD, Intro. & Adv. Shop, etc.

    • any MCST courses, except those listed for Engineering, Hospitality programs, and Medical Science/Health Occupations

    • Lighting & Sound

    • Graphic design

    • Photoshop

  • Innovation Classes (offered through the Hatchery)

    • Innovation Engineering

  • Alternate student-generated proposals of other available courses or programs of independent study that satisfy Standards B and C may be approved by the SCE Review Committee on a case by case basis. (See form below)

Documentation: official copy of student transcript or evidence of satisfactory completion of student-generated proposal.


STRAND 3: Extension: [Standards A/B (based on individual interest) and C]

Student Accomplishments:

  • Approved programs must provide experiences in which the student will challenge him/herself to expand and connect STEM principles to local and/or global conditions and/or to solve problems. Students are expected to take leadership roles within the approved activities to expand the students’ knowledge beyond what is normally covered in CHRHS classes.

  • Student must show active and significant participation in activities in their approved program, demonstrated in the documentation (see below). Approved programs must include at least 25 hours of documented participation. Students are encouraged, but not required, to explore many different STEM areas.

  • Possible examples of activities include: Windplanners, Robotics, Math Team, Internships, Job shadowing, Pop Tech or conferences, Tropical Marine Ecology, Advanced Marine Ecology, SkillsUSA, BLOOM, and MERITS.

  • Suitable substitutions beyond the provided examples for STEM Extension must satisfy Standards A/B (based on interest) and C, and may be approved by the SCE Review Committee on a case by case basis.

Documentation: A log of participation hours and a written reflection that demonstrates the student’s individual accomplishment of Standards A/B and C through their extension experiences is required. Reflections must connect Strand 3 experiences to at least 2 STEM fields.


STRAND 4: Culminating Project: (Standards A, B, C & D)


Student Accomplishments: Students will demonstrate STEM literacy and competency by designing, implementing, and presenting a culminating, independent project whose goal is to engage in research or to create a unique product (computer code, engineering design, etc.). Project must incorporate 3 of the 4 STEM elements. Approved programs must involve interaction or collaboration with one or more adult members of the STEM professional community.


The project will involve the following components:

  • Presentation of project proposal to the SCE Committee and/or mentor.

  • Evidence of significant efforts to individually and independently create new knowledge or a unique product.

  • Evidence of significant personal intellectual growth, explained in a research paper, extended journaling, personal blog or vlog.

  • Presentation of completed project to the SCE Committee.

  • After approval of the completed project by the SCE Committee, presentation of the project in a public forum.


Documentation: A written project proposal and a portfolio (written, electronic, or a combination) that showcases the student’s accomplishment of all required elements listed above.

Use the Planning Guide below to help you prepare your work for Strand 4



STEM Strand 4 Planning Guide.docx

STEM Endorsement Proposal

Use the attached STEM Endorsement Planning Guide to help you map out and plan for meeting the standards.


STEM Endorsement Planning Guide.pdf