Feb 3, 2022 – Raleigh, NC – North Carolina-based hands-on learning company, Betabox Learning, is pleased to announce its inclusion in the 2021-2022 State of North Carolina Biennium Budget. This funding will allow for the launch of Betabox’s NC STEM education pilot program that has been created in order to help mitigate impacts of learning loss amongst rural and underserved schools throughout North Carolina. The program will deliver hands-on learning STEM curricula in the form of in-person Onsite Field Trips via mobile learning labs which will be supplemented by online professional development and coaching for teachers through an online membership portal.
With this pilot program, which is intended to address learning loss due to COVID-19, Betabox is even more focused on the much larger, long-term mission of equitable distribution of hands-on STEM learning resources in the state.
“Education, like the workplace, is changing every day and we need an education system in North Carolina that prepares our students for the 21st century,”
said Rep. John Torbett (R), Gaston County, who co-chairs the House Education Committee and the House Select Committee on an Education System for North Carolina’s Future.
“Betabox is taking North Carolina’s science and technology curriculum and literally putting it in the hands of North Carolina students. By investing in this pilot project, we will be able to gauge learning growth in areas of the state that have never had access to Betabox. I was honored to lead this effort in the General Assembly and I look forward to getting the data back on its effect on student learning.”
The program is much more than just the mobile learning lab experiences. Betabox provides professional development, lessons, hands-on learning equipment checkout, and more for all of the teachers that bring students out to the site. These programs spark interest and sustain great hands-on instruction in the classroom by supporting teachers.
“We believe the equitable democratization of cutting edge technology and evidence-based STEM education is one of the highest-leverage public investments available,”
said Sean Newman Maroni, CEO of Betabox Learning.
“The challenges of the past two years have disproportionately impacted students and teachers in our most under-resourced communities, and have compounded existing resource disparities in low-property tax areas throughout North Carolina. This, in my opinion, is our mandate, and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the great State of North Carolina in addressing these issues.”
Betabox Program Structure:
- Application and Enrollment of school districts in this Program
- Kickoff Call with Betabox, Program Tailoring, Services Scheduling.
- Four days of Betabox Onsite Field Trips at participating schools (providing a memorable hands-on learning experience to up to 120 students per day).
- Onboarding of nominated educators in the district to Betabox Membership.
Any administrator or teacher can submit an application for their district to be considered for this program. Schools who would like to apply to participate can visit this official application page. Round One of applications will conclude on March 1st, 2022, and events are expected to begin this spring.
About Betabox Learning
Betabox Learning’s mission is to spark and sustain hands-on learning in K12 schools. Since 2015, Betabox has created memorable hands-on learning experiences to K12 schools in underserved regions throughout the Southeastern US. In the majority of circumstances, Betabox programs are available to districts at no cost due to the funding partnerships with industry, higher education, and government partners. Betabox is proud to collaborate with the industry to tailor the Betabox curriculum to the future needs of a growing technology economy, including companies such as Boeing, Red Hat, MilliporeSigma, and more. Betabox programs have become essential STEM enrichment for thousands of students in school districts in rural South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama. To learn more, visit https://betaboxlearning.com/.