College of Education and Human Development

In the News: Erin Peters-Burton

The lead feature story in the August 2015 issue of Scientific American is titled "Science For All" and focuses on the research of Erin Peters-Burton and her colleagues regarding a new breed of schools known as inclusive STEM-focused high schools.

Peters-Burton is an associate professor and division director in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University.

From the article:

A new breed of schools, known as inclusive STEM-focused high schools (ISHSs), are making remarkable progress in tearing down the walls of traditional high school education. Rather than focusing solely on students who are gifted and talented, these schools recruit a broad swath of students who choose to attend a STEM high school.

They are attracting students from populations that are underrepresented in STEM professions: women, Hispanics and African-Americans, and include enrollees from low-income families as well as pupils who are the first in their families to attend college. And they pave the way for entry into the STEM workforce: The number of STEM jobs is increasing and they offer higher salaries and wider career choices than many other kinds of work...

The growth and considerable enthusiasm behind STEM-focused schools notwithstanding, there is little research on how they work or what they have in common. My colleagues (Tara Behrend, Erin Peters Burton and Barbara Means) and I are leading a study that will help illuminate the traits that make STEM high schools successful and provide insights into their potential for scale-up. 

 

Click here for the full article.

 

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About CEHD

George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools: the Graduate School of Education, one of the most comprehensive education schools in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a full range of courses, certificates, and degree programs on campus, online, and on site to more than 4,000 students each year. CEHD is fully accredited by NCATE, and all licensure programs are approved by the Virginia Department of Education. George Mason University, located just outside of Washington, DC, is Virginia's largest public research university.

For additional information:

• CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
• Graduate School of Education: gse.gmu.edu
• Science Education Research, PhD program: gse.gmu.edu/phd-in-education/phd-concentration-in-science-education-research

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