(The Center Square) − At a Louisiana Nonpublic Schools committee meeting on Monday, state education officials highlighted an innovative effort to enhance STEM learning: The Flying Classroom, a national program designed to immerse students and teachers in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math education.
Daphne Flentroy, the Louisiana Department of Education’s ombudsman, shared insights on how the project has been integrated into professional development for nonpublic school educators, marking a major milestone in collaborative STEM education across the state.
“The Flying Classroom was our first major project in establishing a statewide nonpublic educators’ collaborative,” Flentroy said. “It provided a unique professional development opportunity and face-to-face engagement, which teachers found incredibly valuable.”
We are doing a new STEM program in afterschool called Flying Classroom. I had to dissect owl pellets to find out what the owl ate!,” East Feliciana Public Schools posted on Facebook.
Afterschool STEM programs have seen increasing participation. A 2020 report from the Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning noted that 77% of afterschool programs now offer STEM learning opportunities, up from 67% in 2014. Parents also increasingly recognize the value of STEM education, with 75% agreeing that afterschool programs help children gain interest and skills in STEM fields.
“Our participants walked away from this saying, ‘Can we have more of this?'” Flentroy said. “Some even wanted to explore ways to bring it to their own schools or dioceses.”
The most recent Flying Classroom session was held January 27-28, where Louisiana educators engaged in hands-on experiments, including projects involving aerodynamics and aerospace exploration. Many teachers expressed interest in collaborating with local education agencies and public schools to expand the reach of these programs, Flentroy said.
Louisiana has had a series of educational wins over the past several months. Just last week, the National Assessment of Education Progress released a report that reflected major progress, particularly in math and reading.
The state has made great deal of effort to enhance STEM education statewide. The state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education recently approved new computer science standards to be implemented in the 2025-2026 school year, ensuring students develop critical digital and problem-solving skills from an early age.
Additionally, afterschool STEM programs have seen increasing participation. A 2020 report from the Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning noted that 77% of afterschool programs now offer STEM learning opportunities, up from 67% in 2014. Parents also increasingly recognize the value of STEM education, with 75% agreeing that afterschool programs help children gain interest and skills in STEM fields.
Flentroy also addressed funding strategies, encouraging educators to blend funding sources—such as Title II and other federal allocations—to maximize the impact of STEM initiatives.
