Austin Public Schools leaders are taking a new approach to get more girls interested in science and math.

School leaders announced the district is participating in SciGirls CONNECT for 2014 through 2016. SciGirls, a partnership with LT Media Lab and Minneapolis Community Education, is an animated and live-action television series that tries to change how girls think about science, technology, engineering and math — or STEM.

“It’s a good partnership that seemed like it’s going to be able to provide opportunities for our staff and our kids,” Educational Services Director John Alberts said.

Alberts is excited about the partnership, although he said many details about the program have not been worked out yet since the partnership is so new. Both Ellis Middle School and I.J. Holton Intermediate School will partner with the SciGirls program.

School organizers will be in contact with program leaders within the next few weeks to work out details through conference calls.

“This is the first step that we’re being announced as a partner,” Alberts said. “There’s more and more that we’ll learn about as time goes on.”

He said one thing the schools will implement will be SciGirl clubs.

“All organizations will be looking at creating some SciGirl clubs where there will be opportunities for different activities for girls to participate in science,” he said.

School leaders also plan to feature summer activities and to spend time at the University of Minnesota as part of the SciGirls goal of getting girls interested in science. Alberts said activities could include things like computer coding and other activities involving math, science and technology.

The schools heard about SciGirls through a current partnership with the University of Minnesota Learning Technologies Media Lab.

“It seemed to all match and fit very well,” Alberts said.

Two staff members, Ellis math teacher Amanda Miller and I.J. Holton science teacher Joni Ervin, will be the site leaders of the program, which targets girls in fifth through eighth grades.

The program will ultimately benefit staff members from both buildings, giving opportunities for additional ways to teach the different subjects. It will also benefit the girls involved. The program lasts two years and may start at the beginning of the next academic school year. The program won’t cost the district extra money.

“It won’t cost the district anything other than time,” Alberts said.

Educators from Minneapolis Community Education, Austin Public Schools and the LT Media Lab will receive official training on SciGirls resources and curriculum, along with a $200 stipend for materials and ongoing online support and resources.

After training, SciGirls clubs from Austin and Minneapolis will spend time investigating, creating, and solving STEM-based challenges. Next year, girls from both school districts will go to the University of Minnesota to meet each other, showcase their learning, and explore STEM careers.

Alberts hopes the students will benefit from the program.

“We’re very excited about affording different opportunities to our students,” Alberts said. “This could be really neat.”

For more information about SciGirls, visit hwww.scigirlsconnect.org/page/partners.