Obama requests funding to help math, science teacher preparation

Photo: Meris Stansbury

Meris Stansbury, Online Editor writes, "In today's news, President Obama said his upcoming budget proposal, set to be released next week, would include a request for $80 million from Congress for a new Education Department competition to support math and science teacher prep programs. He also announced $22 million in new investments from the private sector to support math and science efforts."

"And here's a special reminder: The Smithsonian's free Shout webinar series kicks off next Tuesday and Wednesday (Feb. 7-8) with "Water Questions: When We Want to Learn More.".
The webinar series, which offers K-12 educators resources to expand their curriculum, will feature seven sessions led by Smithsonian experts from both the arts and sciences, giving participants a global view of the issues associated with our most critical natural resource: water. During the sessions, participants will have the opportunity to interact with Smithsonian experts and webinar participants. In addition, the Smithsonian offers comprehensive teacher lesson-planning materials and hands-on activities, including a new badging program to reward student participation. To register, visit www.smithsonianconference.org/shout/program-2012/."

Photo:  eSchool News

President Barack Obama on Feb. 7 called for millions of dollars in new funding to improve math and science education, an effort he said would be crucial to the nation’s long-term success.

Obama said his upcoming budget proposal, set to be released next week, would include a request for $80 million from Congress for a new Education Department competition to support math and science teacher preparation programs. Obama made a similar request to Congress last year, but the measure didn’t pass.

Obama has set a goal of preparing more than 100,000 math and science teachers and training a million additional science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) graduates over the next decade.

Seeking to highlight the benefits of math and science education, Obama hosted a White House science fair earlier on Feb. 7, featuring projects designed by more than 100 students from across the country. The projects included a robot that helps senior citizens connect with their families via Skype and a portable disaster relief shelter that could be used to house people who have been displaced from their homes.
(For more information about the White House Science Fair participants, click here.).
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Source: eSchool News