The Help Group’s STEM³ Academy Model Proves Successful; Expands to Meet Demand

LOS ANGELES – Oct. 26, 2015 – STEM³ Academy, a new innovative Los Angeles-based school that’s the first of its kind in the country, today announces it will now serve middle school grade students with social and learning differences who excel in science and technology. The mission of STEM³ Academy is to connect the particular strengths of students with social and learning differences with an innovative and rigorous STEM curriculum that positions students for lifelong success. The school, which opened its doors to high school student for the first time this past August, is already seeing demand for expansion to include grades sixth through eighth.

“Studies report as many as 85 percent of adults with social and learning differences are either underemployed or unemployed,” said Dr. Ellis Crasnow, director of STEM³ Academy. “By offering a middle and high school STEM curriculum, we are able to prepare students for future careers and lifelong success. With more than 8.65 million STEM jobs available by 2018, and a 28 percent increase in the number of students with social and learning differences enrolled in undergraduate STEM fields, we know that there is a place for our students in tomorrow’s workforce.”

STEM³ Academy offers an award-winning robotics program, courses in computer programming, a wide range of AP classes, digital arts and videography and internships, with all students having access to a state-of-theart Innovation Lab. Both required and elective classes encourage participation and cooperation among students as they ready themselves for a world in which collaborating and making presentations are as essential as keyboarding and coding. Students develop this literacy through in-class projects as well as internships, senior projects and personalized education plans.

“The middle school curriculum will be designed to provide a solid foundation for more rigorous classes later on, offering both required classes and electives that engage students as well as ground their education,” said Dr. Crasnow.

STEM³ Academy is the newest school operated by The Help Group, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit dedicated to serving children, adolescents and young adults with special needs related to autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse

STEM³ Academy offers open enrollment through the year, a residential program to house out-of-state students, and door-to-door transportation for local Southern California students. For more information or to schedule a tour, visit www.stem3academy.org.

About The Help Group
Founded in 1975, The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States serving children with special needs related to autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional problems. The Help Group’s nine specialized day schools offer pre-K through high school programs for more than 1,500 students. Its broad range of mental health and therapy services, child abuse and residential programs extends its reach to more than 6,000 children and their families each year.