Expanding STEM Networks: Catalyzing Student Success

K-12 STEAM education

East LA South LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Despite making up one of the fastest-growing job sectors in the US, STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering and Math—remain areas in which Latinx and Black people are markedly underrepresented. A 2021 Pew Research Center study found that Latinx and Black workers make up just 8% and 9% of the STEM workforce, although they represent 17% and 11% of the overall workforce. These disparities exist in the ramp-up to successful STEM careers and their promise of economic mobility. Black and Latinx students earn a disproportionately smaller percentage of STEM degrees. The elementary and secondary schools that prepare these students for college typically offer fewer opportunities for STEM learning.

Investments are needed to ensure that K-12 students of color have equitable access to the crucial resources and opportunities that equip them for success in the STEM pipeline: high-quality math and science curricula, enrichment activities and culturally responsive, identity-affirming supports.

The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (Partnership) is excited to further expand our K-PhD program (K-PhD). Developed and first piloted by us in 2020-21, K-PhD offers the intensive academic enrichment and experiential learning needed to prepare students to become future STEM leaders. We are well-suited to offer K-PhD because we manage a network of 20 LA Unified public schools—in Watts, South LA and Boyle Heights—serving more than 13,000 students. K-PhD is free to students (K-12).

With renewed LA2050 funding, we will expand our STEM Club Network through Affiliate Clubs at each of our network’s 14 K-PhD sites to broaden student access and participation. These Affiliate Clubs will be newly launched or existing school-based activities adopted into the K-PhD ecosystem. For example, schools that already have math and computer-science clubs under K-PhD will welcome Affiliate Clubs focused on cyber security, the EngineerGirls initiative and digital fabrication arts. Affiliate Clubs will be led by site-based educators—known as Affiliate Leads—with support from the teacher leaders (K–PhD Leads) who currently head K-PhD.

The expanded model will allow us to:
Double student participation at each site, growing to 720 students from 360 students (2024-25).
Build inclusive STEM communities where students feel seen, supported and connected.
Host in-house math competitions and STEAM Fairs across all school sites.
Strengthen educator collaboration and resource-sharing across the network.

Partnership’s goal is that the K-PhD program—expanded through a stronger STEM Club Network—will help transform LA County into a nationwide example for equitable STEM education. Our previous grant supported K-PhD’s flexible, school-based framework for advanced STEM enrichment in 13 sites. In 2025-26, we will scale that model by adding Affiliate STEM Clubs to our Club Network at 14 sites, doubling student participation and expanding access to high-quality, culturally relevant STEM learning. By embedding math competitions, STEAM Fairs, and mentorship into school communities, we aim to build lasting STEM identity and ambition in our student participants. Starting in 2026-27, we anticipate beginning to pilot the K-PhD model for LA Unified students at schools outside of the Partnership’s network. K–PhD is a proof of a concept and a pathway: a replicable, site-adaptable model that fosters collective impact. Success means more Black and Brown students imagining—and pursuing—a future in STEM.