Digital Literacy is Essential
According to the National Skills Coalition, 92% of today’s jobs require some form of digital literacy. However, they also found that “nearly 48 million US workers have few or no digital skills.” With ubiquitous access to technology in all facets of everyday life, and with the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the need for technical skills is only going to increase.
Even career fields that have historically relied on field work with trade skills now require proficiency with smartphones, tablets, and digital cameras. The HVAC technician or the plumber no longer asks the customer to sign paper forms that will be filed so the company can send an invoice for payment. Instead, the employee takes digital pictures of the work they completed, attaches them to the customer’s online case file, has the customer sign a digital copy of the work order, and collects payment on the spot with a credit card reader or ACH bank transfer.
At DART STEM Services, we recognize the importance of preparing students for a future where even fast food orders are taken by a self-service kiosk. We also recognize that many of today’s schools, both public and private, are ill-equipped to provide students with access to effective and high quality STEM education that teaches them computer programming, electrical circuitry, 3D modeling, robotics, and other concepts associated with technology and engineering. Further, non-traditional education is on the rise, and many families are choosing to homeschool their students. These parents, too, need help finding and vetting available STEM education services and resources.
We’re a 501(c)(3) public charity
DART STEM Services was founded as a Georgia corporation in January 2025, and we received our IRS 501(c)(3) determination at the end of February. Our Board of Directors is composed of individuals with backgrounds in Education, Information Technology, Public Service, Technical Recruiting, and Corporate America.
Our vision
At DART STEM Services, we envision a future where there are enough technology producers to satisfy the needs and wants of technology consumers. In a world where the consumers outweigh the producers, the systems and services on which society has become dependent can no longer be maintained, and critical infrastructure begins to fail. Stagnation replaces innovation.
A technology consumer is someone who uses technology without really understanding much about how it works. Technology producers not only know how our devices work, they also see the role they play in larger systems, and they imagine ways both the devices and the systems could be improved. To be a technology producer, one needs a solid foundation in many content areas including but by no means limited to computer programming, networking, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Our Programs and Services
DART STEM Services provides several programs and services to further our mission of expanding access to STEM education opportunities.
Financial Assistance for STEM
We provide financial assistance to public and private schools, as well as homeschool families and co-op groups, to purchase STEM education resources and services, particularly in the areas of Technology and Engineering.
computer repair and recycling
We repair, refurbish, and recycle donated computer equipment to provide to schools and homeschool students for individual student use or as an on-premises computer lab. Eventually, this initiative will expand to provide internship and on-the-job training opportunities for students wishing to prepare for a career as an electrical engineer or computer hardware technician.
STEM classes and events
We organize after-school clubs, in-school field trips, weekend workshops, summer camps, and other experiential events focused on STEM, particularly in the areas of Technology and Engineering.
community outreach and education
We host educational seminars and give other presentations intended to raise awareness of the importance of STEM education for today’s students and to help parents and educators select and evaluate STEM education resources and services.
scholarships
We provide scholarships to students wishing to pursue post-secondary opportunities in STEM fields, particularly in the areas of Technology and Engineering.
professional development
We conduct professional development and continuing education workshops for educators to help them acquire knowledge and skills they can use in the classroom to provide STEM education opportunities for their own students.
We need your support!
Our Funding Sources
DART STEM Services raises money through a number of different sources. These include grants and donations from both individual and corporate donors.
grants
Grants from both the public and the private sectors to fund STEM education initiatives are plentiful. However, just as with the services and resources these grants could fund, many potential recipients either do not know that they exist or lack the skills, knowledge, or manpower necessary to apply for them. DART STEM Services applies for grants directly and helps other organizations apply for grants for themselves.
corporate donors
Corporate donors are companies, both large and small, in fields like manufacturing and technology that want their future new hires to come with job-ready skills. This reduces the time and costs needed to on-board employees. These companies recognize that because STEM education helps develop 21st century skills like problem solving and logical thinking, employees with experience in STEM content areas often outperform those without STEM backgrounds even when working in nontechnical fields.
individual donors
Individual donors might be wealthy entrepreneurs, celebrities, and athletes looking to “give back” in some way to a specific field or community. This group, though, also includes everyday people who understand the importance of and believe in preparing today’s students for the societal and workplace challenges they will face moving forward.