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DoD STARBASE offers a positive, proven approach to engendering excitement and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. This knowledge is important to our nation's future because:

• During this decade, employment in science and engineering occupations is expected to increase at almost four times the rate for all occupations.
• In a comparison of 15 year olds in 27 countries, United States youth ranked 18th in math and 14th in science.
• The rapid pace of technological change, and globalization of the economy, simply demands that our workforce be literate in science and math.
• Less than 1% of current elementary school students will seek advanced education in the sciences.
• When compared with the performance of students from other countries around the world, the performance of  U.S. fourth graders in TIMSS math and science was lower in 2003 than in 1995.
• An over-reliance on the math and science talent of  foreign students represents a major potential weakness in the future competitiveness and vitality of the U.S. economy and workforce. (Keeping America Competitive, Education Commission of the States)
• Students who attend DoD STARBASE Academies increase their knowledge and skills in math and science.
• Students who attend DoD STARBASE improve their attitudes about and their confidence in math and science.
  

In 1989, Barbara Koscak a recognized leader in education, was invited to the White House by President Ronald Reagan and awarded the Federal Aviation Administration's National Educator of the Year Award. The President selected her because of her ability to excite her students to learn science, math, engineering and technology and to develop their potential for challenging careers. Knowing that all children love airplanes, she had created a curriculum built around space and the physics of flight – a curriculum that was "hands-on, mind-on."

Taking her dream to the next level, she contacted Brigadier General David Arendts, who was the 127th Wing Commander at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. Together, they discussed the possibility of students seeing the application of classroom knowledge by observing the work of the men and women of the Air National Guard. They agreed that military personnel could explain and demonstrate the use of science, math, engineering and technology in their careers.  National Guard personnel would also be great role models who could reinforce the importance of education, teamwork, goal setting and self-discipline. General Arendts embraced the idea and lent his full support for the creation of the project.

Rico Racosky, an accomplished F-16 pilot and author, was working on a project to inspire students to achieve their dreams through taking action. General Arendts recognized that Racosky's ideas would be a perfect match for STARBASE and the model of "dreams plus action = Reality®" or "d + a = R®" became a critical component of the STARBASE curriculum.

Rick Simms, a local university student, and individuals at the Mount Clemens School District completed the team. Together they created an educational program that offered stimulating "hands-on, mind-on" activities focusing on science, math, technology, personal development, teamwork, and drug awareness and prevention.
 
In order to make the dream a reality, the team needed funding. In 1990, the Scott Crossfield Foundation awarded Koscak the prestigious A. Scott Crossfield Teacher of the Year Award. The award honors the famous pilot's personal heroes--teachers.  Koscak used the award money to fund a one-week pilot program. She bought supplies, rockets, and treats for the students of the pilot program called "Project STARS." Teachers around the area donated their time and talents to the summer program in 1990.

The team's next step was to apply for funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to offer a year-round program for students, as well as a one-week training for teachers. Project STARS was awarded a three-year grant on March 1, 1991. The response and results of the program were impressive.   In 1993, Congress allocated funds to expand the program to seven states.  This was a momentous occasion, launching the program into its expansion. The military and educational communities enthusiastically embraced the program, and by year's end, it grew from its original site at Selfridge to seven academies.  The program changed its name to DoD STARBASE. The dream of DoD STARBASE, to create a program that would respond to the needs of today's youth by providing stimulating, "hands-on, mind-on" science, technology, engineering and math, as well as motivational goal setting and self-esteem activities, is now a vibrant reality. Military volunteers continue as role models who donate their time to the program showing students how classroom concepts apply to "real world" situations.

After 17 years of success, the DoD STARBASE dream has blossomed from a single classroom to classrooms in five regions of the country, in 34 states, the District of Columbia,  Indian Reservations, and U.S. Territories. To date, the program has provided 20-25 hours of stimulating experiences at military bases for over 500,000 students. National Guard, Navy, Marine, Air Force Reserve and Air Force bases are home to the program. This rapid growth truly affirms the children of America have a need and that DoD STARBASE  meets that need.
 
DoD STARBASE continues to be a premier program in science, technology, engineering and math. Today's students not only study flight, but also use computer-assisted three-dimensional software  to design space stations, land rovers, submersibles and unmanned aerial vehicles.  DoD STARBASE…making tomorrow happen today!

"DoD STARBASE is a great program.  It makes math and science exciting and those are the jobs of the future.  I did not meet a kid who wasn't just totally fascinated and completely engaged in what they were learning."

Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education (2005-2008)

DoD STARBASE focuses on elementary students, primarily fifth graders. The goal is to motivate them to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as they continue their education. The academies serve students that are historically under-represented in STEM.  Students who live in inner cities or rural locations, those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, low in academic performance or have a disability are in the target group. The program encourages students to set goals and achieve them.

The program engages students through the inquiry-based curriculum with its "hands-on, mind-on" experiential activities.  They study Newton's Laws and Bernoulli's principle and learn about the wonders of space and the properties of matter.  Technology captivates the children as they use the computer to design space stations, all-terrain vehicles, and submersibles.  Math is embedded throughout the curriculum and students use metric measurement, estimation, calculation and geometry to solve questions.  Teamwork is stressed as they work together to explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate concepts.

The military volunteers apply abstract principles  to real world situations by leading tours and giving lectures  on the use of STEM in different settings and careers.  Since the academies are located in different branches of the military this experience is highly varied.  Students may discuss how chemical fires are extinguished, learn how injured are transported, explore the cockpit of an F-18 or the interior of a submarine.

The academies work with school districts to support their standards of learning objectives.  A teacher whose class attended  DoD STARBASE stated, "STARBASE teaches science and math in ways that we wish we had the time, resources and expertise to do in the regular classroom.  It's experiential, exploratory learning with a direct tie to the standards."

DoD STARBASE is a world leader in introducing the latest science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum to elementary students. The inquiry based curriculum,  engages students in exciting "hands-on, mind-on" experiments and technology activities.  

A. Physics (3.5 hours):

1. Newton's Laws of Motion
2. Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics

B. Chemistry (3.5 hours):

1. Building Blocks of Matter
2. Physical and Chemical Changes
3. Atmospheric Properties

C. Technology (4.0 hours):

1. Innovations
2. Navigation and Mapping

D. Engineering (4.0 hours):

1. Engineering and Design Process
2. 3-D Computer Aided Design

E. Mathematics Operations and Applications (2.0 hours):

1. Numbers and Number Relationships
2. Measurement
3. Geometry
4. Data Analysis

F. STEM Careers (1.5 hours):

1. STEM Careers on Military Facilities
2. Personal Investigations