Women continue to be underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce as jobs and opportunities continue to be created. Research has shown that providing students access to STEM courses as early as elementary school increases their interest in pursuing STEM careers (Early Exposure to STEM and Its Impact On The Future of Work, 2019). Exposing young girls to technology helps lead to the representation of women in IT, which matters because (1) it shows that this field is open and attainable for everybody, (2) it positively impacts the mental health of young girls when they find success in STEM field, and (3) it helps them gain technical skills that can be transferred into other careers.
At La Causa Charter School, our bilingual public charter school on the south side of Milwaukee, serving 97% Hispanic/Latino children, Coding and Robotics are a part of the core curriculum.
“We take pride in being able to offer multiple classes and enrichment activities for students to learn and grow in science, technology, engineering, and math because we know our demographic of primarily Hispanic/Latino origin is underrepresented in STEM careers, particularly young brown and black women,” says Kari Hendricks, La Causa Charter School’s Principal.
Specifically, all students in grades 1st through 4th take a computer skills class where they learn about computer science and coding using Code.org. According to their metrics, 45% of Code.org users are young women. This percentage includes La Causa’s young female students in 1st through 4th grade, who will have seen from a young age that they are capable of being successful with coding along with the rest of their young peers. Exposure to STEM at these grade levels helps show that the STEM field is open to everybody.
The process of learning in the field of science, technology, engineering, and math requires students to research, design, create, test, redesign, and test again, until they have achieved their goal. This builds a student’s resilience and confidence, recognizing that failing happens, not everything will go as you imagined, and you can learn from failure and come back with even more success. Failing safely in school and feeling successful through these challenges helps build a young girl’s confidence to take on larger challenges in life.
When students find success in STEM, this positively impacts their emotional well-being and encourages them to pursue careers in STEM. In January 2025, LCCS 3rd grader Alanna was chosen to participate in the SHARP Literacy Video Game Expo, where she showcased the video game that she had programmed in class. Alanna and her teammate had a space-themed game featuring a cat astronaut.
“The name of my game is Catch as Many Cats as You Can, and I came up with this idea because I love animals,” says Alanna. “I was happy, nervous, and excited to show it off,”.
Opportunities like this help LCCS students like Alanna to gain confidence in their ability and skills in STEM.
STEM classes in elementary and middle school help students learn the technical skills and soft skills (such as problem solving, attention to detail, communication, and effective teamwork) they will need in a variety of careers. This is especially important considering how technology advances and infiltrates our everyday lives.
“For many of our students, who are technology natives, these courses allow them to build their skills in productive ways and transfer those skills to core academic subjects, which can lead to broader opportunities for bilingual career paths in the STEM fields,” says Principal Hendricks.
Students also agree that their classes are helping them achieve their educational dreams. At La Causa Charter School, after learning coding basics, all students take Robotics from 5th to 8th grade, working in teams to build and program robots. They practice navigating in controlled spaces and eventually compete in robotic soccer matches.
“I like that I was able to take robotics class here at the school,” says 7th-grade LCCS student Amsi. “I want to get a job doing stuff like building robots or programming machines; it’s interesting to me.”
When more girls like Amsi pursue a career in STEM, they will become role models for future generations of young girls.
Representation matters. When young girls are exposed to women who look like them succeeding in IT or STEM Careers, they can see themselves in that career path. This is another place where schools and community partnerships can be critical to the success of all young women. In the past, La Causa has partnered with the group Women in Technology Wisconsin to create experiences where young women and young men learn from amazing, intelligent women in STEM who are driving their companies and Wisconsin forward.
Introducing young girls to STEM in school is important because at a young age they learn that the STEM field is attainable for everyone, including themselves, they find that their self-esteem is positively impacted through success in the classroom, and they gain technical skills. Not everyone will pursue a career in STEM, but after taking classes such as coding and robotics at a young age, the young women of LCCS will graduate from the school knowing they can be successful in a career in STEM and more.
About La Causa, Inc.
La Causa, Inc., founded in 1972, is one of Wisconsin’s largest bilingual, multicultural agencies, offering family-centered programs to promote healthy families and community stability. Our divisions include: Crisis Nursery & Respite Center (CNRC): A 24/7 safe haven for children (birth to 12) during family crises, preventing abuse and neglect. Early Education & Care Center (EECC): Provides bilingual education for children (4 weeks to 4 years), with a 5-star WI YoungStar rating. La Causa Charter School: Bilingual STEM-focused education for K4-8th grade students, addressing Hispanic underrepresentation in STEM. Social Services – Youth Services: Wraparound care, foster care, and mental health services for youth. Social Services – Adult Services: Strength-based programs for adults with mental health and substance use challenges, including recovery support, case management, and peer mentorship. Together, we nurture potential and foster community.
But the journey doesn’t stop in grade school—it continues with programs like i.c.stars, where young adults from underserved communities transform their STEM skills into high-impact tech careers.
Want to mentor, partner, or support future changemakers in tech?
Get involved with i.c.stars today and help build a pipeline of empowered, tech-savvy leaders who are ready to shape the future.
Together, we can make sure every young girl with a spark for STEM has a path to shine. Learn how to get involved with i.c.stars Milwaukee.