During the early days of the pandemic, staff from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission were knocking on the doors of high school superintendents and school counselors across Oklahoma’s 77 counties, asking if they could tell them about a new aviation curriculum available to their students.
The door-to-door sales worked. The four-year “You Can Fly” High School Curriculum developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is being adopted by independent school districts at a record pace throughout the state, according to commission officials.
During a recent four-day training conference for teachers, Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell announced that Oklahoma is first in the nation for the number of schools approved to teach the AOPA high school aviation curriculum starting this fall.
AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker confirmed that the 58 school districts across the state that have signed onto the program moved the Sooner State into first place in the United States.
“I want to make Oklahoma a Top 10 state in every category and I am so proud that Oklahoma is ranked first in the nation for high schools teaching the AOPA curriculum,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “Thanks to innovative leadership and the work of Oklahoma Aeronautics, we are helping young people find a passion for aviation and aerospace. As a pilot, I am excited to see what the future brings for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and the aerospace industry in our state.”
AOPA’s You Can Fly initiative is all about building the aviation community, getting more people into the skies, and keeping them there, state officials noted. The centerpiece of the initiative is the free High School STEM Curriculum.
In the past school year, more than 12,000 students in 1,000 classrooms across the country took the curriculum and learned about opportunities in aviation, according to Baker.
The program is beginning to see real dividends as among its first set of graduates, 58% are pursuing aviation-related careers (including 87% of those who are attending college, trade, or technical school), AOPA officials reported.
To support the program, in late 2021 the Oklahoma commission applied for a Workforce Development Grant from the FAA to add support for the implementation of the AOPA program. Staff is working with those 58 schools to distribute FAA funds directly toward classroom supplies.
One foundational aspect of receiving the FAA grant was to name five Oklahoma high schools as “Aviation High Schools of Excellence:” Ada High School, McAlester High School, Mustang High School, Okmulgee High School, and Pryor High School.
They were early adopters of the AOPA program and will serve as mentors for new Oklahoma high schools implementing the curriculum, state officials noted.
To further advance the program, Sen. Zack Taylor and Nicole Miller filed Senate Bill 1147, which Stitt signed into law, directing the State Board of Education to ensure aviation courses are eligible for non-elective academic credit toward meeting Oklahoma’s graduation requirements.
Is the Young Eagle Program factored into the high school aviation programs?