Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Carranza, Council Member Rodriguez Announce $2.65 Million Investment to Create State-of-the-Art STEM Education Center in Northern Manhattan

July 27, 2018

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza and Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez today announced that the City is investing $2.65 million in structural and program investments to create a state-of-the-art, 21st-century flagship STEM center with a focus on aviation and robotics at Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics. The new project includes an FAA approved aviation training simulator and builds on a $2.7 million investment by Council Member Rodriguez to make Gregorio Luperon a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics hub for Northern Manhattan. The school opened the state-of-the-art robotics lab in the 2017-18 school year, and has developed an aviation program and a four-year STEM sequence that culminates in advanced coursework including AP Physics, AP Biology, AP Computer Science, AP Calculus, and Advanced Robotics.

“To be the fairest big city in the nation, New York City’s kids need to believe they can soar in any field,” said Mayor de Blasio. “This investment will give students hands-on opportunities to learn the valuable STEM skills they need to compete in a 21st century economy.”

“Playing with robots is fun. But it’s also an important educational experience,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Phil Thompson. “Giving students the opportunity for hands-on STEM learning like they’re getting in this program makes them better learners and prepares them for jobs of the future.”

“This robotics lab provides students with the opportunity to build the skills they need to be successful in college and careers in the 21st century,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “I thank the Mayor and Council Member Rodriguez for their commitment to hands-on, engaging, high-quality STEM education for all students. As more students are excited to learn and connect what they’re doing in the classroom to future opportunities, we move closer towards our goal of equity and excellence for all.”

“To achieve true and lasting equity in our city, we must empower our youth to dream and achieve their goals. The $2.7 million from City Council and $2.65 million from the administration announced today will give the students at Gregorio Luperon High School the foundation they need to excel as professionals in STEM. They will be the leaders of our community, city, country and around the world. I thank Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Corey Johnson for believing in the amazing future of Luperon students with these funds,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

The Mayor, Chancellor and Council Member toured the school’s robotic lab to celebrate the City’s $2.65 million investment in STEM and robotics which will provide students with the opportunity to learn advanced engineering, science and mathematics, including moving theories to action in their own Makers Classroom and Robotics Lab. Council Member Rodriguez co-founded the school and his additional contributions provided funding for the Robotics Lab and supported the school’s robotics team in competing at national robotics tournaments.

These investments are aligned to the City’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda, including the Computer Science for All and AP for All initiatives and expanded investment in Career and Technical Education. Through Computer Science for All, every student will receive computer science education in elementary, middle, and high school by 2025. Through AP for All, the City is adding Advanced Placement courses – a record number of students are taking and passing Advanced Placement exams and by fall 2021, students at all high schools will have access to at least five AP classes. The City is opening 40 new CTE programs over the 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 school year, and has increased investment in work-based learning opportunities for students in CTE programs.

Together, the Equity and Excellence for All agenda is building a pathway to success in college and careers for all students. Our students are starting school earlier, with free, full-day, high-quality education for three-year-olds and four-year-olds through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All; and our schools are strengthening foundational skills and instruction earlier, with Universal Literacy and Algebra for All. Our schools are also offering students more challenging, hands-on, college and career-aligned coursework, as Computer Science for All brings 21st-century computer science instruction to every school, and AP for All works to give all high school students access to at least five Advanced Placement courses. Along the way, our schools are providing students and families additional support through College Access for All, Single Shepherd, and investment in Community Schools. Efforts to create more diverse and inclusive classrooms are central to this pathway.