2.2: Mathematics and Science

Promote advanced proficiency in mathematics and science for all students.

Other Information:

Strengthening mathematics and science achievement is an economic imperative for the nation and for individual citizens. As prospective employers increase their reliance upon advanced mathematics and science skills, high schools must provide more rigorous instruction in these subjects. Such efforts will support not only prospective mathematicians, scientists, and engineers, who will develop innovations that enable the United States to continue to compete economically with other nations, but also all students who will participate effectively in the global economy. The Department will support increased access to AP and IB mathematics and science classes and a critically needed increase in teachers prepared to teach these classes through multiple strategies, including incentives and leveraging of federal dollars. Strategy 1. Support projects expanding offerings and participation in advanced mathematics and science classes. To better ensure that students arrive in high school ready for rigorous mathematics course work, the Department will identify and, depending on the availability of appropriations, support the implementation of research-based instructional strategies in elementary and middle schools. The Department will seek to maximize the value of the federal investment in mathematics and science education by implementing the recommendations of the Academic Competitiveness Council, which was established to identify ways to improve the coordination of federal efforts in these areas. Strategy 2. Encourage grantees to offer incentives to teachers to become qualified to teach AP and IB courses in mathematics and science and to teachers whose students pass AP tests in those subjects. The Department will work with Congress to increase support for API grants and give priority to applicants that reward mathematics and science teachers, both for becoming qualified AP and IB instructors and for their students’ success on AP exams. Strategy 3. Promote greater investment by the business community in expanding AP and IB access and success. Business leaders are among the strongest proponents of raising the rigor of the high school curriculum, and they are eager to support these efforts in their local schools. To reach more students, the Department will encourage business leaders to supplement federal support for projects that seek to increase the successful participation of low-income students in AP and IB mathematics and science courses with their own contributions. Strategy 4. Leverage the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grant program, rewarding postsecondary students who major in mathematics or science studies. We will continue to implement, support and evaluate the SMART grant program as an incentive for students to complete a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or a scientific discipline. Strategy 5. Ensure student preparation for rigorous mathematics education in high school by investing in the Math Now program. President Bush is proposing funding for Math Now programs that would focus on strengthening mathematics education in the early grades and middle school so that students enter high school prepared for challenging course work. Math Now for Elementary School Students would provide competitive grants to improve instruction in mathematics for students in kindergarten through seventh grade, leveraging scientifically based research and promising practices. Math Now for Middle School Students would make competitive grants to improve mathematics instruction for students whose achievement is significantly below grade level.

Stakeholder(s):

• High School Students

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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