Schumer, Saxton Unveil Bipartisan Program to Improve Math and Science Educatiton

SCHUMER, SAXTON UNVEIL BIPARTISAN PROGRAM TO IMPROVE MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

Mathematics And Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006 Creates Federal Fellowship Program To Recruit, Train And Retain Outstanding Math And Science Teachers

Program Will Implement Proven Model To Improve Math And Science Education

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Jim Saxton yesterday introduced the Mathematics and Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006 (MSTC, pronounced "mystic"). MSTC, S. 2248 and H.R. 4705, is bipartisan legislation that creates a federal fellowship program to recruit, train and retain outstanding math and science teachers. The program will recruit aspiring and current teachers with strong content knowledge, and will involve approximately 20% of our nation's secondary math and science teachers.

"Math and science are the key to America's continued prosperity in our global economy," Senator Schumer said. "Unfortunately, more and more math and science teachers come to the profession without expertise in the subjects they teach. Those who do have the expertise are offered much more money in the private sector, and make personal sacrifices in order to be in the classroom. We cannot hope to lead the world in mathematics and the sciences on the backs of a handful of highly-skilled, self-sacrificing individuals. MSTC is a step in the right direction to make sure we stay at the cutting edge of technology and remain the global leader in math and science."

"Teachers help shape our future work force, and math and science skills are vital parts of that future," said Saxton, Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee of the House and Senate, and himself a former teacher. "Congress needs to help recruit, train, and retain outstanding math and science teachers. The nation's secondary math and science teachers are critical to producing good students for the hi-tech jobs of tomorrow. The Mathematics and Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006 would help cultivate a work force with skills that keep our nation competitive in a global economy. I'm pleased to work with Sen. Schumer on this bipartisan approach."

Prospective teachers with strong math and science backgrounds, as well as working teachers who have solid expertise in their fields, are often lured away from teaching by more lucrative and prestigious opportunities in the private sector. In exchange for a four-year teaching commitment, MSTC will provide teaching certification in a one-year master's program for individuals who are highly skilled in math and science. Retention strategies will include district-level mentoring, professional development, and federal financial incentives. Under MSTC, current teachers will commit to teaching for five years and serve as leaders in their school, mentor new teachers and participate in professional development. They will also receive federal financial incentives to keep them from leaving the classroom for the private sector.

MSTC is based on three unique tenets:

1. National Standards for Participation. All applicants, whether aspiring or working teachers, must perform at a satisfactory level on a National Academy of Science-approved standardized test of subject knowledge. In addition to strong knowledge of subject matter, candidates must demonstrate strong verbal skills as well as other attributes that are linked to effective teaching.

2. Financial Incentives. During their years in the program, all corps members will receive stipends from the federal government in addition to their regular salaries. New teachers' stipends will begin at $11,000 and scale up to $20,000 during their four year teaching period, while working teachers' stipends will be set at $20,000 per year. Corps members teaching in hard-to-staff schools may receive enhanced stipends.

3. Building Prestige and Respect Through a National Program. As members of a teacher corps, participants will experience a high level of enthusiasm and solidarity. In addition, the highly visible teacher corps will build prestige and respect for the field of math and science teaching.

The President's State of the Union address highlighted this need, but Senator Schumer and Congressman Saxton think Congress needs to go a step further. The President's program would spend $25 million on math and science teachers, but would primarily aim to bring math and science professionals in to schools as adjunct teachers. MSTC, however, will invest in 20% of the teacher population once it has fully ramped up, and will integrate math and science experts as full-time teaching staff who will be an integral part of the school community even as they provide top-rate teaching.

MSTC is based on a successful program in New York City called the Newton Fellowship Program, which is operated by a non-profit organization called Math for America.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2006/PR52.MSTC.020806.html