Mission
NC Project Lead The Way seeks to help NC schools provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required to pursue careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology related fields.

Vision
NC Project Lead The Way is recognized as a leader and driving force in the educational system that increases and sustains the technological viability and competitiveness of NC.

OUR VALUES - We believe that:

• A committment to diversity promotes opportunities for individuals, enhances creativity and strengthens organizations.
• A culture of collaboration involving individuals and teams foster greater satisfaction and superior results while achieving common goals.
• The passionate and unwavering pursuit of excellence is essential to high levels of achievement.
• All people have something to contribute and deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
• It is essential to know, listen to, and be responsive to our stakeholders.
• Anticipating and managing change is critical to success.
• Learning is a lifelong process.
• Discovery is the essence of education.
• Honesty, integrity and the highest ethical standards are essential attributes of successful individuals and effective organizations.
• The outcome of Career Technical Education is valuable and productive and not limited to college bound students or those engaged in the teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

Goals

1. Increase the number of young people, without regard to gender or ethnic origin, who pursue science, engineering and technology related careers requiring a two or four year degree.
2. Increase females and underrepresented groups entering science, engineering and technology related careers.
3. Provide relevant programs that supply a highly skilled workforce for the local economy.
4. Develop assessment tools to evaluate the success of NC PLTW.
5. Develop funding streams to sustain the NC PLTW administrative of
6. Support the development of all teachers with specific attention to teachers of STEM studies.
7. Increase the value of NC PLTW by enhancing the image and visibility of NC PLTW among relevant stakeholders.

Objectives

• Extend the statewide articulation agreement between NC community colleges for PLTW courses.
• Reduce the college attrition rate in science, engineering and engineering technology programs.
• Establish college credit for PLTW courses with two and four-year NC colleges.
• Establish collaborations with Career and Technical Student Organizations.
• Establish collaborations with other organizations whose mission is consistent with PLTW.
• Support NC Department of Public Instructioneffort to enhance academic rigor through the 3Rs program - rigor, relevance and relationships.
• Support efforts to offer AP and Honors Credit for PLTW courses.
• Have one or more PLTW schools in each of the 8 educational regions of NC by 2010.
• Develop a short hands-on, fun and exciting, trial program for students, teachers, and parents to introduce engineering courses to Local Education Agencies school administrators.
• Target schools for implementation of PLTW in regions where local industries could be most impacted.
• Establish an advisory board composed of relevant local stakeholders for each NC PLTW school.
• Make schools within given communities aware of the availability of different specialty courses in the PLTW curriculum.
• Create linkages with state and federal workforce initiatives.
• Become a proponent for the implementation and evaluation of STEM initiatives in NC.
• Create a NC PLTW website teacher link to inform teachers of activities and events ongoing nationally and within the state.
• Work with and support the NC Department of Public Instruction committee to eliminate/substitute specific provisional license requirements.
• Develop partnerships with college and university departments of engineering to encourage engineering students to minor in education leading to teacher certification in addition to their formal degrees in engineering.
• Host PLTW Summer Training Institutes at Duke University.
• Facilitate and streamline the provisional licensing requirements and provisional status clearing process currently outlined by NC DPI to support the lateral entry of teachers.