Washington Awarded One of First-Ever National Math and Science Initiative Grants for AP and Pre-AP Courses

For Immediate Release: September 7, 2007

Governor and State Superintendent announce award that will foster next generation of scientists and engineers

OLYMPIA � Following a highly competitive application process, Washington 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 designed to help America maintain its global leadership position in technological innovation.

�This is a terrific opportunity and resource for Washington students,� said Governor Chris Gregoire. �This award will help us provide significant additional support to teachers and students and, ultimately, will move us closer to a world-class, learner focused education system.�

Terry Bergeson, state superintendent of public instruction, said the grant represented a perfect addition to work already begun in schools. �The grant will allow us to coalesce our resources, making kids more successful,� she said. �For years, we�ve increased the number of students taking Advanced Placement courses. Last year the governor provided state money to bolster enrollment in these course. We�ve seen how valuable the courses are, especially to students in highly mobile, rural districts. The grant will expand those opportunities to more students.�

Washington�s proposal, submitted by Mentoring Advanced Placement (MAP), a non-profit organization headquartered in Vancouver that links business mentors with Advanced Placement (AP) teachers and students, was selected among only seven states to receive the first grants given by NMSI. The grants will each provide up to $13.2 million during the next six years to state non-profit entities to help fund training and incentive programs for AP and Pre-AP courses.

Research demonstrates that students who have access to strong AP programs are more prepared to do college level work in math, science, and engineering.

�The response NMSI has received from across the country has been remarkable,� said Tom Luce, President and CEO of NMSI. �Their 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, Rising Above the Gathering Storm. According to the panel of 20 experts, improving American students� performance in math and science coursework is the most effective way to increase the United States� global competitiveness. 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.

�ExxonMobil invests in people and communities around the world because we believe that meeting the world�s economic, energy and environmental challenges requires the development of the world�s most powerful natural resource � the human mind,� said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation Rex Tillerson. �By focusing on programs that are proven to be effective, NMSI holds great promise in fostering the next generation of scientists and engineers.�

In addition to the AP grants, NMSI will offer funding opportunities to many universities across the nation for UTeach programs, which encourage math and science majors to pursue teaching credentials during their undergraduate education. Recipients of the UTeach grants will be announced in October of this year. Non-profit entities in 28 states applied for this first round of AP grants, and 52 universities have applied for the UTeach program.

�MAP is excited to add teacher training and incentives to its mentoring services,� said Scott Keeney, MAP Board Chair and CEO of nLight, one of the founding partners of MAP. �With the demonstrated training models provided by NMSI, and the business mentoring services already in place, MAP will be able to have a much bigger impact on students� success in rigorous coursework. The end result will be more Washington students who are prepared to compete in a global economy.�

The grant includes extensive training of teachers, identification and cultivation of lead teachers, additional time on task for students and financial incentives based on academic results.

Research shows dramatic improvement among schools with training and incentive programs. In a five-year study of Texas schools, those with programs for AP and pre-AP courses experienced four and five times more growth in students scoring three or higher on AP exams in math and science, respectively, than those without the programs.

MAP will deliver the training and incentive programs, along with its mentoring program, to selected schools across the state. MAP�s supporting partners in this effort include the Office of the Governor, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Educational Service District 112, the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council and nLight.

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 U.S. For more information about NMSI, please visit their website at www.nationalmathandscience.org.

About Mentoring Advanced Placement (MAP)
Mentoring Advanced Placement is a unique, business-education non-profit organization that works with school districts, teachers, high school students and professionals from the business world to bring real-world relevance, rigor and relationships to the classroom. Its mission is to challenge high school students to succeed in more rigorous academic subjects to prepare to become future leaders and innovators in the global economy. MAP does this through a combination of student mentoring, teacher training and the provision of incentives. For more information about MAP, please visit their website at www.apmentoring.org.

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