Girls-only STEM academy planned in Kentucky city

Education officials in central Kentucky are planning a girls-only academy that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the Fayette County Board of Education approved a job description this week for a director of the new program.

Officials hope to start the program next fall with 150 girls in kindergarten through second grade and eventually offer it to girls in grades 3-8.

Fayette Superintendent Manny Caulk says staff from the University of Kentucky will collaborate on the initiative.

Special Programs Manager Vee Pryor says girls are on par with boys or above in science and math, but that’s not translating to the workplace.

The aim of the program is to equip female students with necessary job skills using the most recent STEM approaches.