Jerger Elementary is in the process to achieve certification status through the Georgia Department of Education STEM School Certification Program. All students in grades K-5 engage weekly in science, math, engineering, and technology through a hands-on program where they learn concepts and principles in an authentic, problem/projectbased environment. Engineering by Design™ program is the foundational STEM curriculum. The program is built on the belief that the ingenuity of children is untapped, unrealized potential that, when properly motivated, will lead to the next generation of technologists, innovators, designers, and engineers. Through the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, EbD™ uses all four content areas as well as EnglishLanguage Arts to help students understand the complexities of tomorrow and is endorsed and provided for local school systems by the Georgia Department of Education. The Gifted Program at Jerger began implementation of the Engineering is Elementary (EiE) Curriculum prior to the school-wide initiative. The research-based, classroom-tested curriculum, which meets both state and federal standards, is organized around 20 engineering challenges. Students read storybooks about children from around the world who are faced with design challenges. After reading the stories, the students work in teams, just like real engineers, to solve real-world problems such as building bridges or designing biomedical devices. Engineering may not seem like an obvious subject for elementary school students to study. However research shows instruction in engineering enhances the way students learn science—as well as math and other subjects. A rigorous curriculum and the integration of technology are two attributes already in place that help move Jerger closer to certification. With the adoption of the STEM curriculum, Jerger will continue providing extended professional development for teachers in integrating STEM within the state curriculum and opportunities for teachers to attend state and national STEM conferences. Other plans include providing STEM labs and technology classes weekly for all students, providing math and science enrichment opportunities and STEM competitions, observing Georgia STEM Day each May, developing business, community, and post-secondary partnerships, and securing ongoing funding for STEM initiatives. Accelerated Math is part of Jerger’s STEM program. In 4th grade, students cover all of the 4th grade curriculum and half of the 5th grade curriculum. During 5th grade, they complete the remainder of fifth grade curriculum and all of sixth grade. This allows a full year of acceleration by the time they are in middle school, making them able to advance to both AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus before their junior and senior years in high school.