Girlstart Program Report : School Year 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3 Girlstart is deeply grateful to the many stakeholders that make it possible to accomplish its mission. Philanthropic support is helping us provide thousands of Texas girls with high-quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs—more than ever before possible in the history of our organization. This has made it possible for us to offer more programs that have impacted more girls than ever before. The world’s greatest challenges need new STEM ideas and insights. Half of the world’s potential ideamakers—women and girls—are discouraged from developing their ideas because of social bias or inequity. More girls with more ideas create more solutions. This is what Girlstart does. Girlstart cultivates a culture where risk is rewarded, curiosity is encouraged, and creativity is expected. As a result, Girlstart girls are connected, brave, and resilient. Girlstart makes girls more successful, and inspires them to take on the world’s greatest challenges.
Numbers Served Summary Program
Participants Served
Girlstart After School 2012-13
4,613 (est 4,159 children; 444 adults)
Public STEM Edu /Science Extravaganzas 2012-13
7,670 (est 6,521 children / 1,649 adults)
Girls in STEM Conference 2013
576 (576 girls)
Girlstart Summer Camp
586 (586 girls), 37% full scholarship
Teacher Professional Development (to date + proj) Total
482 (482 adults) 1 3 , 8 9 7 ( 1 1 , 8 4 2 children ; 2 , 5 7 5 adults )
Progress Against Stated Deliverables After School •
# Girls reached in Girlstart After School: Projected: 600. Actual: 875 (spring 2013).
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# After School Programs in Central Texas: Projected: 30. Actual: 33 (spring 2013).
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# After School Programs in ‘to Go’ locations: Projected: 2-5. Actual: 8.
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# Additional children, parents, and teachers served through Community STEM outreach activities offered at partner schools: Projected: 2,000. Actual (as of 5/20/2013): 3,738
After School Program Location Overview: •
Austin area (Central Texas), TX
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Dallas, TX
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Hays County, TX
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McAllen, TX
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San Antonio, TX
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Waco, TX
Summer Camp Deliverables •
# Girls reached in 2012 Summer Camp: Projected: 450. Actual: 563.
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# Girls reached in 2013 Summer Camp: Projected: 500. Actual: 586
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# of girls receiving scholarships: 2012: 229 (40%) 2013: 226 (38%)
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# 2013 Camps at Girlstart STEM Center: Projected: 14. Actual: 14.
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# 2013 Camps in ‘to Go’ locations: Projected: 5. Actual: 8.
2013 Summer Camp Program Location Overview: •
Austin (14 camps)
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Hays County, TX (2 camps)
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San Antonio, TX (1 camp)
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Silicon Valley, CA (2 camps)
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Bellevue, WA (1 camp)
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Taylor/Thorndale/Rockdale, TX (1 camp)
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Dallas, TX (1 camp)
Detailed Program Impact Girlstart After School •
Total number of girls served in school year 2012-2013: 875
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Additional parents, teachers, and other members of school communities served (includes related Public STEM Education outreach numbers and est. parent/teacher reach): 3,738
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Total number of schools: 39; Total # of districts: 11
Girlstart After School is an intensive intervention where we provide free STEM programming every week throughout the school year at our partner schools, as well as wraparound services to support STEM in each partner school. Girlstart After School involves sequential, informal, hands-on and inquiry-based activities across the STEM acronym. Girlstart After School is only one of two full year, research-and standards- based STEM education program for girls in the nation, and Girlstart’s programs reach vastly more girls (39 schools, compared to 2 reached by the other program).
Of the 875+ girls who participated in Girlstart After School in 2012-2013, 68% are considered economically disadvantaged, and 33% are considered Limited English Proficient. 55% of participants, if they attend college, will be of the first generation in their family to do so. 60% of Girlstart After School participants are Latina, 20% are Caucasian, 9% are African-American, 5% are Asian or Pacific Islander, and 5% identify as multiracial or multiethnic. Girlstart After School participants are girls between the ages of 8 and 13. Girlstart After School Detailed Program Locations Central Texas: Austin ISD
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Williams Elementary (4 -5 grades)
Ann Richards School for Young Women th
Leaders (6 grade)
Hays: Hays CISD th
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Cook Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
Hemphill Elementary (4 -5 grades)
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Govalle Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Pfluger Elementary (4 -5 grades)
McBee Elementary (4 -5 grades) Ortega Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
Dallas: Mansfield ISD
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Palm Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Erma Nash Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
Pecan Springs Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Pleasant Hill Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Rodriguez Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
McAllen: McAllen ISD th
Alvarez Elementary (4 -5 grades)
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Wooldridge Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Wooten Elementary (4 -5 grades)
Central Texas: Pflugerville ISD th
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Dessau Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
Central Texas: Del Valle ISD th
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Baty Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Northwest Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
Parmer Lane Elementary (4 -5 grades)
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Gilbert Elementary (4 -5 grades)
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Riojas Elementary (4 -5 grades)
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Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary (4 -5 grades)
Wieland Elementary (4 -5 grades)
Central Texas: Georgetown ISD
Central Texas: Round Rock ISD
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Cooper Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Forbes Middle School (6 -8 grades) th
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Gateway Charter (4 -5 grades) th
McCoy Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Caraway Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
Wells Branch Elementary (4 -5 grades) rd
Mitchell Elementary (2 clubs: 4 -5 & 3 ) th
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Pickett Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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Tippit Middle School (6 -8 grades)
San Antonio: Northside ISD th
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Linton Elementary (4 -5 grades)
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Adams Hill Elementary (4 -5 grades) Waco: Connally ISD th
Central Texas: Taylor ISD
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Connally Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
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T.H. Johnson Elementary (4 -5 grades) th
Taylor Middle School (6 grade)
Girlstart After School is particularly impactful for participants because of the consistency, length, and rigor of the program. Our 2012-2013 program evaluation found that all grades showed an increase in the number of girls who demonstrate competence in using the scientific method. Progress against desired goals include: Program Goal 1: Increase participants' competency in/mastery of the scientific method and facility in STEM knowledge/skills •
95% of participants demonstrated that they understand the scientific method and the
engineering design process. •
94% respond positively to the statement: ‘I understand that it is okay if my Girlstart
activity does not work on the first try’ (strong agreement: 60%, as opposed to 49% on the presurvey). •
92% of participants realized after participating that they use science outside of school.
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95% indicated interest in creating things and 88% reported that they ‘like to try new
things.’ •
At the program’s end, 84% of girls reported knowing what ‘STEM’ stands for (44% on
the pre-survey). Program Goal 2: Increase # girls interested in selecting STEM at HS/college •
92% of participants demonstrated the awareness that doing well in STEM at school
means that they are more likely to get into college. •
89% responded positively to the statement 'I want to try more science activities.'
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97% of participants expressed intent to attend college after high school (strong intent:
82%, a rise from 76% on the pre-survey). •
84% reported interest in taking further STEM classes in middle or high school (strong
interest: 54%, as opposed to 47% on the pre-survey). Program Goal 3: Increase # of girls interested in pursuing STEM careers
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All After School participants were invited to attend the Girls in STEM Conference on
April 6, 2013. We offered free registration, free bus transportation for each school, and a Girlstart chaperone to and from the program. 433 girls from Girlstart After School registered for Girls in STEM. •
92% of participants demonstrated the awareness that doing well in STEM at college
means that they are more likely to have a better career. •
82% reported that after participating in Girlstart, STEM careers seem more interesting
to them. •
73% indicated interest and 95% indicate at least a moderate interest in entering a
STEM career (strong interest jumped from 32% on the pre to 42% on the post). Science Extravaganzas /Public STEM Education We had anticipated serving 5,000 girls, family, and community members with Community STEM programming this school year. In school year 2012-3, we reached 8,246 girls, family and community members. A detailed list of how we accomplished this is below: Community STEM Education programs offered at Girlstart partner schools so far in the 2012-2013 school year (through May 2013) 1,401 community members reached August 20 – GISD Community Day – 30 October 18 – Cooper Elementary Literacy Night - 32 October 25 – Caraway Elementary Science Night – 150 October 27 - Palm Elementary STEM Saturday – 8 November 13 – Wieland Elementary Science Night - 48 November 17 - Wooten Elementary STEM Saturday – 20 January 11—Google Sketchup Workshop – 16 January 24—McCoy Elementary Science and Math Night – 150 January 24—Mitchell Elementary Starlab – 180 January 31—Wells Branch Elementary Science Night – 65 February 26-27—Frogger Days at Ann Richards School – 128 February 27—Ortega Elementary Science Night – 75 April 6—Girls in STEM – 359 April 10—Wooten Elementary Resource Fair – 40 May 1—Hemphill Science Night – 50
May 9—Pfluger Starry Extravaganza - 50 Other Community STEM Education programs offered in Central Texas so far in the 2012-2013 school year (through April 2013) 6,845 community members reached August 18 – Science of Sound at Bob Bullock - 30 August 19 – Expo de la Familia - 100 September 8 – Back to School STEM Saturday - 109 September 22 – Sheriff’s Extravaganza - 50 September 23 – Women in Science - 500 September 23 – Space Junk Day at Bob Bullock - 300 October 13 – Girl Scouts of Centx STEM Fest - 83 October 18 – Girls’ School of Austin Science Night - 150 October 20 – Mina Elementary Spooky Extravaganza - 68 October 20 – Weather Watch STEM Saturday @ Girlstart - 30 October 24 – Texas Conference for Women - 350 October 26 –Spooky Science at Bob Bullock - 522 October 27 – Bluebonnet Elementary Spooky Extravaganza - 48 October 29 – Boys and Girls Club of Georgetown Spooky Extravaganza - 42 November 3 – We Are Girls Conference - 90 November 10 – Girlstart Games STEM Saturday @ Girlstart - 30 December 1 – DeSTEMber Fest - 252 December 8 – It’s Just Rocket Science STEM Saturday @ Girlstart - 30 December 6 – Mathews Elementary STEM Night - 52 January 17—Crazy Concoctions at Harmony School of Political Science – 225 January 19—Sports MD STEM Saturday @ Girlstart – 20 January 24—Murchison Middle School Science Night – 150 January 25—Bridgepoint Elementary Science Day – 43 January 26 – Austin Family Camp Fair - 275 February 16—Gears Galore STEM Saturday @ Girlstart – 32 February 16—RRISD Science Expo - 78 February 20—Pond Springs Science Night--50 Febrauary 23—Weatherfest at Bob Bullock – 423 February 23—Women in Engineering Program Girl Day – 250
February 27—Cottonwood Elementary Starlab – 180 March 7—Lake Pointe Science Night – 250 March 19—NASA Day at the Capitol – 1300 March 26—TXPOST Day at the Capitol – 20 April 6—Girls in STEM – 227 April 8 –Boys and Girls Clubs of Georgetown, Park Lane and Stonehaven clubs - 40 April 20—SpringFest Extravaganza @ Girlstart – 50 April 27—Eco Girl STEM Saturday @ Girlstart – 30 May 4—Violet Crown Spring Festival – 100 May 5 – Austin Mini Maker Faire - 250
Total Central Texas residents served through Community STEM Education programs thus far in school year 20122013: 7,670 (Girls in STEM # is pulled out, and reported upon, below) Girlstart found that our Community STEM Education programs (surveys were administered to Science Extravaganza and STEM Saturday Workshop participants) achieved the following positive outcomes: •
93% of participants expressed a strong interest in creating new things after attending Girlstart.
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81% said that they like science and, after attending the program, 87% report that they want to try more science activities.
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98% of participants report that they want to attend college when they grow up.
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72% feel that their ideas can solve real world problems.
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81% report that they enjoy doing science activities with their families.
Girls in STEM Conference Total number of girls served: 576 th
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Girlstart offers the Girls in STEM Conference annually to 4 -8 graders in Central Texas. The program, which takes place at the UT-Austin University Teaching Center, includes a day-long progression of workshops where girls participate in hands-on activities led by women who work in STEM careers. The conference is designed to introduce girls to female role models in STEM who will inspire and encourage them to consider and pursue STEM careers.
Results include: •
576 4th-8th grade girls from across Central Texas attended the program
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Girlstart awarded 433 need-based scholarships to attendees (60%)
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95 professionals served as volunteer presenters or co-presenters, leading hands-on activities in STEM fields.
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150+ community, corporate, and student volunteers contributed over 500 volunteer hours.
In a post-event survey, girls shared the following feedback about their experience: •
95% of participants demonstrated increased awareness of importance of higher education as a way to broaden their career options; 97% understand that doing well at STEM in school means that they will be more likely to enter college; and 98% reported intent to attend college;
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89% of participants demonstrated increased awareness of STEM careers;
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89% of girls expressed interest in taking more STEM classes and electives;
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89% of participants reported that Girls in STEM made them MORE interested in STEM careers; 100% of girls were able to reflect on at least one new career they learned about at Girls in STEM; and 81% of participants reported specific intent to enter a STEM career;
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91% of participants demonstrated interest in doing more STEM activities in the future.
Summer Camp : Total number of girls served in all 2013 Summer Camps: 586 Number of full scholarships awarded to 2013 Central Texas campers: 21 Total number of full scholarships across all 2013 camps: 226 th
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Girlstart Summer Camps are week-long STEM programs for girls in the 4 -8 grades. These programs achieve consistent positive outcomes by combining formal and informal educational strategies with challenging and relevant STEM curriculum. Girlstart Summer Camp provides individualized experiences that develop a strong conceptual understanding of STEM subjects and increase participants’ interest in STEM activities and careers. Girlstart Summer Camp is rigorous, intensive, and age appropriate at the same time it is fun, informal, and collaborative. Each week, Summer Camp participants engage in 40 hours of challenging content balanced with informal learning experiences, time for reflection, and opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas. Through their experience at Girlstart, participants develop an increased interest in STEM subjects and careers through real-world experiences in subject areas such as video game
design and computer programming, industrial design and engineering, robotics, physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, oceanography, digital media production, and website design. In summer 2013, Girlstart offered 14 camps at the Girlstart STEM Center in Austin, TX, as well as 8 Summer Camps ‘to Go’ in other Texas locations and states (California and Washington). Girlstart offered the following camps at the Girlstart STEM Center and other locations: June 10-14:
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Under the Sea (4 -5 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Girlstart Games (6 -8 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center June 17-21:
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Under the Sea (4 -5 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Girlstart Games (6 -8 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Under the Sea (4 - 5 ) at Ralph Pfluger Elementary, Buda, TX Under the Sea (4 - 5 ) at Columbia Neighborhood Center, Sunnyvale, CA June 24-28:
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Under the Sea (4 -5 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Girlstart Games (6 -8 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Under the Sea (4 - 5 ) at Hemphill Elementary, Kyle, TX Under the Sea (4 - 5 ) at Columbia Neighborhood Center, Sunnyvale, CA July 8-12:
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Toy Shop Mystery (4 -5 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Boutique Detective (6 -8 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Under the Sea (4 - 5 ) at Windcrest Elementary, San Antonio July 15-19:
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Toy Shop Mystery (4 -5 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Boutique Detective (6 -8 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center July 22-26:
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Eco-Girl (4 -5 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center Eco-Girl (6 -8 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Under the Sea (4 -5 grades) at Taylor, Texas July 29-August 2:
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Eco-Girl (4 -5 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center Eco-Girl (6 -8 grades) at Girlstart STEM Center th
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Under the Sea (4 - 5 ) at Erma Nash Elementary, Mansfield ISD (Dallas) August 5 – Aug 9:
Under the Sea (4 - 5 ) at Boys & Girls Club in Bellevue, WA
Summer 2013 Camp Themes Under the Sea (camp at Girlstart STEM Center as well as Summer Camp ‘to Go’ theme) In Under the Sea, girls learned about the oceans and the multitude of ways that STEM careers and activities impact the earth’s vital resource. They explored marine biology, the electromagnetic spectrum, oil spill cleanup, engineered protection for baby turtles, and starfish dissection. In addition to programming robots to solve an oil spill challenge, girls also designed their own video game using Girlstart’s technology toolbox. Girlstart Games In our Girlstart Games camp, girls mastered skills and principles in engineering, biology, botany, physics, chemistry, and sensors. Girls designed and printed a 3D tribute badge using Google Sketchup and Girlstart’s 3D printers, and programmed an Android app using AppInventor. Toy Shop Mystery and Boutique Detective Girls solved a week-long mystery as well as daily challenges in forensics. Forensics-based lessons included cryptography, fiber and hair investigations, and footprint/soil/tire track analysis. Each day, the morning’s forensic puzzle posed an engineering challenge for the afternoon, including prototyping, robotics, and lean manufacturing. Thematic technology activities also introduced girls to computer programming and engineering. All participants created a video game (using our game development toolbox), storyboarded and animated a commercial that promoted their toy prototype, and all girls designed and printed in 3D. Eco Girl At Eco Girl, girls learned about ways to go green as well as green careers as they explored creative lessons designed to introduce ecological engineering concepts and skills. Girls not only met with environmental engineers practitioners throughout the week, but they learned about—and conducted— channeling the power of the earth to generate energy as well as strategies to proactively solve global problems. Girls built solar cars, designed solar homes, and built buildings with rooftop gardens. Girls also programmed a game using our game development toolbox, and developed an Android app using AppInventor. Girlstart Summer Camp ‘To Go’: Program Expansion in other Locations / States In 2013, Girlstart is continuing to demonstrate that our programs can address the national STEM crisis
on a larger scale by offering more Summer Camps in more locations to serve more girls. By the close of this summer, we successfully delivered Summer Camps in high-need locations in San Antonio, Kyle, and Buda, Texas and two other states (California and Washington). This ‘To Go’ expansion makes it possible for Girlstart to bring our high-quality STEM programming to community organizations (like Boys and Girls Clubs) that serve a high-need population but do not have many STEM resources at their disposal. Because these programs are designed to reach girls who otherwise might never have access to this kind of programming, all camps ‘to Go’ are offered to girls at no cost.
Girlstart Summer Camp Outcomes 2013’s progress against desired goals include (statistics through July 29, 2013): Program Goal #1: Participants will demonstrate competency in conducting scientific inquiry, investigations and reasoning and will gain competency in STEM skills. •
93% of participants demonstrated acumen in conducting scientific investigations and
reasoning (using the scientific method and the engineering design process effectively). •
97% of participants reported confidence in using engineering design process and 97%
of participants reported confidence in using the scientific method. •
At the program’s end, 92% of girls reported knowing what ‘STEM’ stands for compared
to only 81% on the pre-survey. •
For Summer Camp ‘to Go’, only 37% of girls reported knowing the scientific method, yet
on the post, 86% demonstrated facility in an open-ended question that asked girls to demonstrate their understanding of the process. Program Goal 2: Increase # girls interested in selecting STEM at HS/college •
90% of participants hope to take more STEM classes in high school.
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95% of participants understand that success in STEM courses can help them achieve
college enrollment. •
98% of participants plan to attend college when they grow up.
Program Goal 3: Increase # of girls interested and confident in STEM
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87% indicated interest in science.
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91% indicated that “if I try hard, I can be good at science.”
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88% reported that “I feel I can be myself at Girlstart camp.”
Program Goal 4: Increase # of girls interested in pursuing STEM careers •
82% of participants expressed at least a moderate interest (48% demonstrate strong
interest) in entering a STEM career. For Summer Camp ‘to Go’, just 34% of girls expressed strong interest on the pre-survey, yet on the post, 45% of them expressed strong interest. •
95% of participants demonstrated awareness of the importance of higher education as
a way to broaden their career options. In addition, vis-à-vis game development: •
92% expressed an interest in authoring additional video games, and 79% say that they
think developing games would be a fun career. Program Expansion Summary Prior to 2010, Girlstart reached approximately 1,500 people per year. This can be roughly broken down to 220 girls in Summer Camp; 100 in After School (and approximately 100 parents); 300 at Girls in STEM; and the remainder in our Public STEM or other out-of-school time STEM education programs. In 2012, Girlstart has dramatically expanded its audiences, to reach 16,000+ girls and community members. •
Our After School program’s scope has expanded significantly. In 2009-2010, we offered Girlstart After School programs at 4 area schools. In the spring of 2013, we reached 875 girls each week at 39 partner schools in 11 districts spanning the Dallas area to McAllen.
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Our Public STEM Education programs, including StarLab presentations at schools and Science Extravaganzas, reached nearly 10,000 community members with free, hands-on STEM activities and programming in 2012.
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In 2013, we delivered 14 weeks of Girlstart Summer Camp in Austin (at Girlstart’s STEM Center) reaching 392 girls; we also did 5 camps outside of Texas (California, Colorado, Washington) as well as 1 week in San Antonio and Dallas and 2 weeks in Hays CISD. We hope to sustain this reach in 2014.
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The Girls in STEM Conference expanded to reach over 550 girls.
Horizon
Girlstart updated its strategic plan in September 2012 that outlines the progress we seek to make: continue to expand Girlstart After School and Girlstart Summer Camp, bring Girlstart programs to scale as opportunity permits, and to sustain the organization for years to come. We are preparing to close out the 2013 plan, build the 2014 workplan, and rebuild another ambitious series of goals and metrics for 2015-2017. Because STEM education is all we do, and STEM education is our future, as well as our nation’s future, Girlstart hopes to bring its programs to scale, so that more girls can embrace STEM learning. Girlstart knows that it is impossible to accomplish its goals without philanthropic support and investment. Owing to generous investments in our work, our programs are strong, and growing in Central Texas— and, now, across Texas. They are becoming nationally recognized for their rigor and impact. They are also reaching an ever-greater numbers of girls, families, teachers, and schools. This ability to grow and scale up our programming has only been possible with the investments that donors have made in Girlstart. On behalf of the staff and the Board of Girlstart, thank you for the many ways that you help Girlstart go.