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September 4, 2007 Contact: Alison L. Fraser 617-778-1519 /cell
Patrick-Murray Administration Announces $13 Million-plus Grant to Foster Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers
BOSTON – Following a highly competitive application process, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in partnership with Boston non-profit Mass Insight Education and Research Institute, has succeeded in securing one of the first-ever awarded grants from the National Math and Science Initiative’s (NMSI) Advanced Placement® training and incentive program. NMSI is a major new non-profit funded primarily by Exxon Mobil Corporation which is designed to help
“We want the graduates of
Massachusetts was selected among only seven other states to receive the first grants given by NMSI. The grant will provide up to $13.2 million over the next six years to help fund training and incentive programs for Pre-AP® and AP® courses and exams. Research demonstrates that students who have access to strong Advanced Placement® programs are more prepared to do college level work in math, science, and engineering.
“This award is great news for the Commonwealth, as we continue to move forward the Governor’s vision to improve education throughout the state,” said Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray. “We should continue to do all we can to ensure students at every level have the tools they need to reach their full potential.” “The response NMSI has received from across the country has been remarkable,” said Tom Luce, President and CEO of NMSI. “The interest in our approach tells me they believe in the potential of NMSI and are eager to improve math and science performance.” Launched in March 2007, NMSI was developed in response to the call for action by the National Academies’ 2005 blue ribbon panel report on the need to improve American students’ performance in math and science coursework, Rising Above the Gathering Storm. Exxon Mobil Corporation announced its support for the initiative with a commitment of $125 million; The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation have also joined as funders. “By focusing on programs that are proven to be effective, NMSI holds great promise in fostering the next generation of scientists and engineers” said Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation Rex Tillerson. The grant, announced Wednesday at a State House ceremony attended by Mayor Thomas Menino, Patrick administration officials and other dignitaries, will support extensive training of teachers, identification and cultivation of lead teachers, additional time on task for students, and financial incentives based on academic results. “In order to ensure that Boston students – and all urban students -- have the opportunity to attend and succeed in college and beyond, we must provide coursework and instruction that meets the highest standards,” said Mayor Menino “This AP® program will allow us to deepen this effort and to go much further – providing access to rigorous coursework for our students, valuable professional development for our teachers, and furthering our partnership with the outstanding colleges and universities we have here in our city” "This grant not only benefits our schools and students today, but it will also produce a stronger workforce in the future with long-term, positive effects on our economy," Senate President Therese Murray said. "This award will help prepare students for new jobs as we continue to move the Commonwealth forward in the areas of Life Sciences and Biotechnology." S. Paul Reville, the newly appointed chair of the MA Board of Education, welcomes the program to
Outgoing Boston Public Schools Superintendent Michael Contompasis, who will chair the Board of Trustees overseeing the The Massachusetts program has a set of ambitious goals building from the Great Schools Campaign that include increasing AP® participation and scores across the Commonwealth; aligning corporate partnerships and federal, state and local spending to support student achievement by institutionalizing effective programs; and creating a pool of private funds to reward high-performing teachers and students. The President of Massachusetts’ AP® and Pre-AP® Training & Incentive Program, a division of Mass Insight, will be “
“This AP® initiative will unite our schools, higher education institutions, industry partners, and government around a clear and significant set of goals,” said Mass Insight President William H. Guenther. “The program will create a pipeline of well-prepared students who transition smoothly from middle school into rigorous high school and college-level courses.” Recognizing the direct link between teacher excellence and student achievement, the grant will also trigger the creation of higher education-based Regional Development Centers. These partnerships between higher education institutions and local school districts will train new and current teachers in the skills needed to effectively teach math, science and English in 21st century schools. The Regional Development Centers will be organized into five regions: Boston, led by UMass Boston, Boston University, Harvard University, MIT, and Northeastern University; Central MA, led by UMass Medical School, Framingham State College, and WPI; Western MA, led by UMass Amherst, the Five College Consortium, Springfield College, and Western New England College; Northeastern MA, led by UMass Lowell, Ed Link, and Middlesex Community College; and Southeastern MA, led by UMass Dartmouth, the CONNECT Partnership, and Bridgewater State College. Generous as it is, the NMSI grant alone will not be enough to fund the entire AP® and Pre-AP® initiative. Mass Insight and its partners have already raised $525,000 in matching and supporting grants from the state: Department of Education and the Board of Higher Education; from foundations: the Boston Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation and the Noyce Foundation; and from corporate funders: Liberty Mutual, the Mass High Tech Council, Mass Mutual Financial Group, and Microsoft Corporation.
Paul Grogan, President of the Boston Foundation, said, “This is an extremely important opportunity for the Commonwealth since our regional competitiveness depends on a highly educated and talented workforce. By providing students with the opportunity to pursue rigorous Advanced Placement® courses in math, science, and English, we are delivering on the promise of education reform. This grant helps to take the goals of the Great Schools Campaign to the next level, and we’re delighted to be a part of it.” About the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)
NMSI is an innovative non-profit organization created to scale programs proven to positively impact math and science education in the
About Mass Insight Education and Research Institute
Mass Insight Education and Research Institute is an independent non-profit organization that works with public schools, higher education, and state government to improve student achievement. For more information on Mass Insight, please visit www.massinsight.org.
The Great Schools Campaign
Building on the first decade of education reform, The Great Schools Campaign is a coalition of business, civic and education leaders, which was formed in 2005, to develop new goals and targeted investments linked to new reforms. The Great Schools Campaign is organized by Mass
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