The Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance (KYOSA) is taking steps to improve the quality of the future workforce in Kentucky for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and computer science careers by offering the online learning platform Learning Blade to afterschool and summer enrichment programs across Kentucky free of charge.

Learning Blade is a system of interactive online lessons, teacher lesson plans and printable at-home activities for 5th- to 9th-graders, where students learn about high-demand STEM, career and technical education and computer science careers while reviewing academics.

Students can use more than 400 online lessons in human-centered “missions” or stories to explore exciting careers aligned to state standards. Teachers also have access to dozens of lesson plans that support innovative project-based learning and classroom activities using common materials

A grant through STEM Next Opportunity Fund’s Million Girls Moonshot initiative has given KYOSA the ability to provide these programs at no charge.

The Intel Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation have joined the STEM Next Opportunity Fund and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to launch the Million Girls Moonshot. The effort is designed to engage 1 million school-age girls in the United States in STEM learning opportunities over the next five years.

The mission of KYOSA is to support the continued growth, development and accessibility of quality out-of-school programs to promote the success of children and youth.

For additional STEM resources and to learn more about the afterschool programs, visit the KYOSA STEM webpage.

To sign-up for a Learning Blade account, go to the Learning Blade Kentucky webpage.