About PRISM
Our Mission
Provide dynamic and supportive leadership to Central Florida’s school districts, striving to enhance teaching and learning in K-12 science and math, and promote related business development, career opportunities, and quality of life for children and youth.
The Business Case
John Glenn, Commission Chairman, National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century stated, “…the future of our nation and people depends not just on how well we educate our children generally, but on how well we educate them in mathematics and science specifically.”
STEM-related industries are critical to our future community, state, and national economic growth and national security. STEM-related businesses and industries are struggling to find qualified employees to meet growing needs – students are missing opportunities to fill these needs and realize the earnings and quality of life opportunities they provide.
About The PRISM Project
Central Florida leaders are preparing for where we want to be in 20 and 40 years.
- We want our young people to compete for the best jobs in the global economy right here at home.
- We want our businesses to find the highest skilled and most productive workers in the world right here at home.
That’s why we launched The PRISM Project. We know a strong foundation in math and science is essential to take us where we want to be.
Through PRISM, 10 school districts working with the business community across Central Florida have a built a plan with performance measures to strengthen math and science education in the region so students may excel, including:
- Joint efforts to recruit and retain highly qualified math and science teachers;
- Expanded professional development opportunities for math and science faculty;
- Incentives to encourage students to take more rigorous math and science courses; and,
- Community support for student teams to participate in math and science competitive events.
The PRISM Project is truly a community effort with businesses, local governments, community organizations and educational institutions across Central Florida stepping up to help the region's schools boost math and science performance. Key partners include the Central Florida Public School Boards Coalition, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, a joint economic development initiative of the region’s three research universities in partnership with 20 local economic development agencies and 14 community and state colleges, and the Orlando Science Center.