WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Committee today approved reauthorization of the America COMPETES
Act with a new provision sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas),
Ranking Member on the Committee, to improve math and science education across
the nation. The provision, modeled after the highly successful UTeach
initiative in Texas, would enable participating colleges and universities to
prepare students who major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
(STEM) to become certified as elementary and secondary school teachers.
“Science and technology are at the core of America’s ability
to compete in an increasingly globalized economy,” said Senator
Hutchison. “These subjects are crucial to solving many of the challenges
we face as a nation in areas such as energy independence, biotechnology, and
healthcare. Texas has been a leader in efforts to improve math, science, and
technology education in American classrooms. Our model program has effectively combined
undergraduate degrees in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
fields with teacher certification.”
In 1997, the University of Texas at Austin started the UTeach
program to prepare elementary and secondary science, math and computer science
teachers. This program has become a national benchmark for teaching excellence
and has been mentioned in several high profile reports including the National
Academies’ “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” report.
“This bill includes a provision that I have championed to
replicate UTeach and similar programs nationally by creating a modest grant
program. Colleges and universities would be able to apply for grants to
implement similar programs to recruit and prepare students who major in STEM
subjects to become certified as elementary and secondary school teachers,”
Senator Hutchison said.
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