Group of young college students are working late, using digital tablets and online resources to complete a school project

What is MEERA?

Preparing students for future careers in manufacturing.

The MEERA program is a turnkey K-12 manufacturing education program designed to inspire and train the next generation of the manufacturing workforce. Our mission is to present all students with the opportunity to see themselves in a vital career. By customizing solutions for each region, we help direct youth to educational and workplace opportunities in their community.

MEERA is the catalyst to super-charge regional manufacturing workforce pipelines.

Your path to a career in manufacturing

MEERA Middle School

6th – 8th Grade

MEERA middle school is designed to expose students to manufacturing and increase interest – the program is exciting and focuses on hands on contextual learning.

MEERA includes applied manufacturing labs using industry relevant tools and technology that is designed for classroom implementation and offers a customized solution to direct youth to educational and workplace opportunities in their community.

MEERA High School

9th & 10th Grade

MEERA’s academy model for 9^th and 10^th grade students works with base high schools to continue to provide comprehensive curriculum that builds on the foundational skills taught in MEERA middle school.

MEERA high school offers students the opportunity to make more informed education and career choices as the program begins to become more focused on specific manufacturing disciplines.

Enter Workforce

High School CTE

11th & 12th Grade

Part of MEERA’s commitment to comprehensive curriculum comes from understanding the knowledge needed for students entering into CTE programs. By working with CTE teachers, our curriculum includes lessons that directly correlate to the skills that are built upon in available courses or through a dual enrollment program. *Many students choose to enter the manufacturing workforce after graduation and the completion of a dual enrollment program.

Enter Workforce

University

Students may select to pursue a higher education degree after graduating high school or the completion of a dual enrollment program. The MEERA middle school and MEERA high school programs offers a variety of lessons that focus on topics that relate to engineering and design, and encourages students to explore all types of manufacturing, including careers that require a 4-year degree.

Ultimate Goal:

CAREER IN MANUFACTURING

A teenager (14-15 years old) experimenting with a 3D printer in a school STEM lab, with vibrant lighting and engaged expressions.

Starting early is
the key

Early exposure to manufacturing encourages deeper learning and greater awareness to exciting career opportunities. We start with grades 6th-8th, using unique and engaging lab activities. All lessons and activities are designed for 45-minute class periods, with the 6th grade course lasting nine weeks and the 7th and 8th grade course lasting 18 weeks.

The turnkey curriculum package for 9th and 10th grade is implemented as an academy model, with 18 weeks of instruction for both grades.

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MEERA for Middle School

MEERA middle schools are designed for 6th-8th grade implementation – supporting 9 weeks of curriculum in 6th grade, 18 weeks in 7th, and 18 weeks in 8th.

List of disciplines:

Additive Manufacturing
CNC Machining
Electronics
Future of Work
Manufacturing Engineering
Non-Destructive Testing
Robotics
Welding
Workplace Readiness

MEERA for High School

Our solution for 9th and 10th grade is implemented as an academy model, with 18 weeks of instruction for ninth grade and 18 weeks of instruction for tenth grade.

List of disciplines:

Additive Manufacturing
CNC Machining
Electronics
Future of Work
Manufacturing Engineering
Non-Destructive Testing
Robotics
Welding
Workplace Readiness

By incorporating hands-on experiences, MEERA makes complex and often intimidating subjects relatable, and even fun.

Megan Kotnik – MEERA Michigan

MEERA Instructor – Charles Hackley Middle School

The launch of Michigan’s first MEERA training center is a major step forward in expanding access to high-quality CTE experience and programs. By engaging middle school students, MEERA is opening doors to promising futures in fields like machining, welding, engineering and more. We are proud to support this effort and look forward to seeing MEERA grow across the state.

Celena A. Mills, Director

Michigan Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education