ATLANTA — DeKalb County Public School students will soon have the opportunity to explore marine science careers due to a collaboration with the Georgia Aquarium.
The school district announced the partnership on Thursday and said it is part of the county's effort to improve its science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational opportunities. The collaboration will run from July 1 until June 30, 2025.
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will have the opportunity to "explore marine science careers and better understand socio-environmental issues affecting their communities," according to the release from the DeKalb County Superintendent's office.
The school district's Chief of Community Empowerment and Innovative Partnerships, Dr. Yolanda Williamson, said this partnership will help increase opportunities to empower students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
"Our goal is that this collaboration with the Georgia Aquarium will not only inspire a passion for marine science but also provide our students with additional critical thinking skills and real-world experiences that bridge gaps in understanding and open doors to future career opportunities," Williamson said.
Multiple goals are listed for the program beyond the focus on marine science careers. These include improving standards-based local, state and national assessment scores, increasing teacher knowledge of marine and environmental sciences, raising environmental awareness and instilling excitement, among others.
The Georgia Aquarium also benefits from the program as it helps achieve its goals of being a strategic school and community partner while addressing future workforce development in ocean sciences and marine biology, the district said.
The partnership was approved on Monday by the DeKalb County Board of Education, and the district will be paying no more than $487,900 for this initiative, according to a release.