Engineering insights: developing stem education for students with disabilities leads to K-16 partnerships

RASEM², a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored project in New Mexico and west Texas, addresses the unequal representation of students with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines. Therefore, the authors commuted to an understanding of pre-college public education, which led to the establishment of K-16 initiatives including bridging programs, summer camps, teacher outreach, professional development, mentorships, and research. In addition, the New Mexico Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education together formed a K-16 partnership group to study and recommend effective strategies fostering quality teaching and learning in all levels of education. The primary author was selected as member of this group. Particularly interesting was the fostering of relationships between college and pre-college educators and the integration of methodologies pursuant 10 the K-16 partnership objectives. Most important involvement in the partnership fostered a K-12 outreach with the charge to better understand pre-college education.