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10 thousand teachers =10 million minds
ExxonMobil is donating this week's op-ed space to the National Math and Science Initiative.
November 12, 2007
The National Math and Science Initiative is making a calculated investment in U.S. economic leadership.
Two years ago, the National Academies completed a study on the importance of strengthening U.S. leadership in science and technology for maintaining our nation’s economic competitiveness. The result was a landmark report called Rising Above the Gathering Storm. Its number-one recommendation: More well-qualified math and science teachers.
As the Academies view it, attracting talented math and science teachers is an investment that produces exponential results. “Recruit ten thousand teachers, educate ten million minds,” the report said.
The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) is helping meet that goal. We are a non-profit organization that works to “scale-up” to a national level innovative programs that have been shown to boost math and science education. Our support comes from companies such as ExxonMobil, which has led the way with a $125 million commitment, and private foundations, such as The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
One of the programs NMSI promotes is called “UTeach.” Developed at the University of Texas at Austin, UTeach encourages math and science undergrads to become teachers by enabling them to graduate in four years with a B.S. degree and teacher certification. The program includes early and intensive teaching experience, and mentoring from experienced teaching professionals.
And the program works. Ninety-two percent of UTeach students begin teaching right after graduation, and 82 percent are still shaping minds four years later. Many teach in underserved urban and rural communities where highly effective math and science teachers are sorely needed.
Under our first round of grants to be announced in the coming weeks, twelve U.S. universities will each receive grants of up to $2.4 million to start UTeach-type programs. Our goal is for the hallmarks of UTeach to become the standard for teacher preparation.
Congress also has taken a step in this process. In April, the House of Representatives passed the “10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act.” Among other things, the bill increases scholarships for science, technology, engineering and math students who agree to go into elementary and secondary teaching positions. It is a bill every American should support.
By adding ten thousand uniquely-trained math and science teachers, the United States can reach ten million young American minds. That’s a calculated investment in securing U.S. global economic leadership for years to come.
To learn more about NMSI, please visit www.nationalmathandscience.org.
