Tamara Hudgins, Ph.D., Executive Director

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ScienceTechnology

EngineeringMath

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REBALANCE THE EQUATION

ONLY 1 IN 7 ENGINEERS IS FEMALE

WORKFORCEOPPORTUNITY

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Girlstart: In Brief

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• Founded 1997 (Austin, Texas) • 2010: Programs outside Austin (‘Girlstart to Go’) launched

• Core Programs: • Girlstart After School • Girlstart Summer Camp • Girls in STEM Conference • Community STEM Programs

• Project IT Girl (2006-2009) outcomes: 80% of girls went into 4-yr university, 87% in a STEM major

• Only organization in the US to have 2 programs recognized by Change the Equation’s ‘STEMWorks’

girlstart.org2014 by the Numbers

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Girlstart After School Overview

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• 1,343+ girls / 50 programs in 2014-2015: largest in the nation. ~70% low SES • One program sustaining in the DFW area (Mansfield ISD); we aspire to 20-40 by 2017

(strategic plan slides below) • Weekly, standards-aligned programs designed to inspire and motivate girls in STEM • 92% master the scientific method/engineering design process. • 90% agree that “If I try hard, I can be good at science.” • 89% say, “I like science!” • 83% report interest in more STEM classes at middle and high school. • 95% understand that doing well in STEM at school means that they are more likely to

get into college. • 95% report intent to go to college (49% would be first-generation college students). • 94% understand that doing well in STEM at college can lead to a better job. • Girlstart girls gain higher scores (23% higher than non-Girlstart girls) on math + science

standardized tests. Girlstart participants also attained Commended Performance on 5th grade math/science tests at a higher rate than non-Girlstart participants.

• After Girlstart, participants enrolled in STEM advanced and pre-AP math and science at a higher rate than non-Girlstart participants.

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GIRLSTART AFTER SCHOOL

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1,300+ girlsevery week

between Dallas and McAllen (so far!)

Girls

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Careers this year:

electrical engineer environmental engineer manufacturing engineer

aerospace engineer environmental scientist

ecologist biofuel engineer geomorphologist

wind energy engineer paleontologist

landfill engineer

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IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

48%

Non-participating

girls*

71%

After School Girls

*% Girlstart girls passing 2012 and 2013 5th grade science STAAR exam vs. matched comparison group

i48%

Non-participating

girls*

IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

63%

Non-participating boys & girls

at Austin partner schools**

71%

After School Girls

*% Girlstart girls passing 2012 and 2013 5th grade science STAAR exam vs. matched comparison group **overall 5th grade science STAAR performance at AISD partner schools

71%

After School Girls

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

GIRLSTART SUMMER CAMP

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Girlstart Summer Camp Overview

girlstart.org

• 2014: 674 girls (53% scholarship for high-need girls) • 14 camps in Austin, 13 ‘to Go' in other communities (including DFW area) • 40-hour, intensive program wrapped around a theme (e.g., Designer Paradise) • 93% master the scientific method/engineering design process. • 89% reported a strong desire to take more STEM classes in middle and high school. • 96% understand that doing well in STEM at school means that they are more likely to

get into college. • 93% agree that “If I try hard, I can be good at science.” • 97% reported willingness to redesign their project if it didn’t work the first try (grit +

resilience, as well as understanding of the engineering design process) • 95% reported that it was fun to use computers to create new things in Summer Camp. • 2014’s technology experiences included: 3D printing, video game development, app

development, MaKey MaKey and Scratch programming, robotics, and animation.

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2012-2014 Strategic Plan Highlights

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Girlstart After School • Growth: 4 programs (2009) —> 50 programs (2015) • ‘STEMWorks’ certified by Change the Equation • Largest / most robust STEM after school programs for girls/nation • Girlstart After School girls = better performance on science &

math standardized tests

Girlstart Summer Camp • Growth: 231 girls / 8 camps (2009)—> 674 girls /27 camps (2014) • ‘STEMWorks’ certified + ‘Ready to Scale’ (one of only 4 programs

nationally) by Change the Equation • Consistent positive outcomes supported by external evaluation

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“Girlstart gave me the opportunity to use my strengths in a challenging and fun way,

Bertha Bermudez, Girlstart After School alumna and geophysicist

”

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