SME Education Foundation and Project Lead The Way(R) Agree to Pilot Summer Program

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 20, 2006 -- The SME Education Foundation (SME-EF), one of the nation's leading non-profit organizations dedicated to advancing manufacturing education and Project Lead The Way(R) (PLTW), a not- for-profit organization that promotes pre-engineering courses for middle and high school students, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a framework for the development of a relevant, hands-on summer educational program in manufacturing, engineering, science and technology in three markets -- each located in the greater areas of Rochester, NY, and Los Angeles and San Diego, Calif. Specific locations for the 2006 summer programs will be announced at a later date.

SME-EF will provide financial support in the form of a $50,000 grant to PLTW for curriculum development and up to $75,000 to support three pilot programs. They will also work to engage the support of the local chapters of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).

PLTW will develop four introductory units designed for middle school students that will be added to their current Gateway to Technology(TM) program setting. PLTW will provide previously trained instructors in middle school learning environments meeting their standards, and make initial contacts to prospective summer pilot schools. They will also provide instructional assistance and summer program teachers at the pilot sites and provide coordination of the pilot implementation sites for consistency and quality assurance.

PLTW has pre-engineering curriculum programs in over 1,400 middle and high schools in 45 states and is growing rapidly through a demonstrated track record of having students developing an interest in engineering as a career choice. The STEPS (Science, Technology and Engineering Preview Summer) camp offered by the SME Education Foundation since 1997, has involved more than 4,000 students in five states.

Both organizations will collaborate to develop a "Summer Educational Program Implementation Guidebook," marketing and public relations materials to be distributed to schools, and an evaluation of the efficacy and effectiveness of the implementation of the program. SME-EF and PLTW will also endeavor to engage their affiliates in industry, business and higher education in the collaborative model.