Atlantis receives 4th Innovation Pathway designation
Atlantis received its fourth Innovation Pathway (IP) designation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently approved Atlantis’s application for an Information IP designation for the Arts, Culture and Design Academy.
To satisfy DESE’s requirements for an Information IP designation, the Arts, Culture, and Design Academy placed a new emphasis on product design, offering a personalized introduction to the integrated product design process which is based in part off MIT’s Integrated Design Management (IDM) program. Students in grades 11 and 12 will complete courses centered around project-based, real-world problems solving, and product innovation.
The Innovation Pathways were launched by the state in 2017 to prepare students for college and careers by giving them experience in specific high-demand industries through college level coursework and internships at local businesses. The experiences give students valuable insight into their future career path.
“This designation is another tool in our toolbox that we can use to help prepare students for college and careers,” said Robert Beatty, executive director of Atlantis Charter School. “We designed our Career Academies to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the 21st century workforce. Early on, our academy coalition partners identified new product development as a workforce priority because both existing and new companies, large and small, need future sources of cash flow. Teaching students how to innovate will not only help our students as they advance from school to career, but it will help their future employers as well.”
“These early career programs provide students tremendous opportunities for future success in and out of the classroom by building partnerships with local employers to equip students with experience and knowledge in a growing field,” said Governor Charlie Baker.
Atlantis is partnering with MassHire Bristol and the Business Innovation Center in Fall River to connect students in the Arts, Culture, and Design Academy with relevant workplace and experiential learning opportunities.
Atlantis received its first three IP designations in Spring 2019 for Manufacturing, Business & Finance, and Healthcare & Social Assistance which are integrated into the STEM, Business & Entrepreneurship, and Health Academies, respectively.
The Information IP will serve 50 students when fully enrolled, and the four IP programs combined will serve 418 students when fully enrolled. Students enrolled in these programs will study Advanced Placement courses and participate in job shadows, internships and externships. Atlantis anticipates these opportunities will result in students earning professional certifications related to their desired career field in the future.
These new designations bring to 49 the number of high schools in Massachusetts with Innovation Pathway programs, offering a total of 121 different pathways. More than 4,000 students are projected to be enrolled in an Innovation Pathway program by Fall 2021.
“Our administration is committed to closing opportunity, achievement and workforce gaps for students throughout the Commonwealth, and Innovation Pathways offer invaluable, hands-on learning opportunities,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.