News in Brief: UVA's Proposed Innovation Hub Approved

The UVA Innovation Hub, a proposed lab school partnership between the University of Virginia and Charlottesville City Schools (CCS), has received approval to move forward by the Virginia Board of Education. 

The proposed lab school will expand access to STEM and computer science education for students at Buford Middle School (soon to be renamed Charlottesville Middle School). The Innovation Hub will be a collaboration between CCS, the UVA School of Education and Human Development, School of Engineering and Applied Science and School of Data Science. 

In addition to its focus on STEM, computer and data science, the lab school will align with the science of adolescent development and include elements like student-led, project-based learning specifically designed for middle school students. It will also focus on providing quality professional development opportunities for teachers.

"We stand ready and excited to bring the mission of the UVA Innovation Hub, to engage all students in personally meaningful, computationally-rich and interdisciplinary learning experiences, to life at Charlottesville Middle School,” Kim Wilkens, director of education and outreach at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, said in the announcement released by the Governor's Office.

The Board approved the UVA Innovation Hub alongside a second lab school proposal submitted by Mountain Gateway Community College. For more about the Virginia Board of Education's approval, read the news release from the Office of the Governor.