The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Foundation will add maintenance and manufacturing to its High School Aviation STEM Curriculum, the free program that has reached more than 130,000 students since it launched in 2016.
The new curriculum, which is made possible by a donation from Gregory and Cindy Kozmetsky through their GCK Legacy Fund, will complement existing pilot, drone, and career preparation courses, according to AOPA officials.
The AOPA Foundation will also form an advisory board consisting of industry leaders and educators to ensure the curriculum will prepare students for a career in aviation maintenance and manufacturing while also working within the constraints of a typical high school environment.
Like all other courses in its aviation STEM curriculum, the maintenance and manufacturing course will be offered at no cost to participating schools.
“Like a lot of AOPA members, I’ve experienced the mechanic shortage firsthand,” said AOPA Acting Co-President Katie Pribyl. “Between long waits at shops that are booked out for months and annual inspections that stretch on for weeks — not to mention the void that’s left when a trusted A&P retires — the mechanic shortage has a real impact on our members every day. Every student in this course represents dozens of aircraft that can keep flying. That’s why the addition of this maintenance and manufacturing curriculum isn’t just good for students — it’s good for our members who depend on a healthy maintenance workforce to keep flying.”
In the 2025-2026 school year, the AOPA high school program served more than 32,000 students at more than 1,500 high schools — and, for the first time, it was taught in all 50 states, in addition to two U.S. territories, according to AOPA officials.
“We’re proud of the success the AOPA high school program has had,” said AOPA Foundation Programs Vice President Dan Justman. “We continue to see strong year-over-year growth — and we hear from graduates every day about how this program changed their lives and set them on the path toward successful careers in the aviation industry. With this new pathway, we can open that same door for students who want to build and maintain aircraft and the industry is waiting for every one of them.”
Developing the curriculum is expected to take two to three years, with a field test as early as 2028. Prior to release, the AOPA Foundation will identify certifications and skills students need to enter the workforce, design hands-on learning experiences, and equip teachers with resources and training to deliver it effectively, officials added.
For more information: AOPA.org
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