| In July 2006 grants of $9 million were given to Texas | | | | the shadows of opportunity. This initiative will help us |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics | | | | close the science and math gap that exists in our |
| (T-STEM) academics of the Texas Schools. The | | | | schools today before it becomes a salary gap for |
| grants will go to the creation of 12 new academies | | | | tomorrow's workers, and an opportunity gap for |
| and centers in the Texas Schools. T-STEM is a | | | | Texas families." Methods For Support and Instruction in |
| program that provides $71 million to various math and | | | | the Texas Schools Funds from both the THSP and |
| science projects at secondary Texas Schools. The | | | | T-STEM will provide resources, instructional methods, |
| T-STEM project is under the umbrella of the larger | | | | and innovative approaches to better educate students |
| Texas High School Project (THSP), which has the goal | | | | at Texas Schools in math and science related areas. |
| of increasing graduation and enrollment rates in public | | | | THSP funds are devoted to creating new and |
| Texas Schools. The THSP is funded by both public | | | | redesigned Texas high schools, training teachers, and |
| and private funds in the amount of $261 million. Its | | | | preparing students for college. The development of |
| partners include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations, | | | | five new T-Stem centers will give instructional |
| the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Office of the | | | | materials to the schools, offer training to school |
| Governor and others. Why Fund Math & Science in | | | | educators, and evaluate best practices that can be |
| the Texas Schools? Concerns that both Texas | | | | recreated in other Texas Schools. Charter schools, |
| Schools and American students in general are falling | | | | small schools, and a YES College Preparatory |
| behind in the areas of math and science have | | | | Academy will be funded with the three implementation |
| increased greatly with recent technology. Federal | | | | grants awarded to Texas Schools to open T-STEM |
| mandates from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act | | | | academies. Four start-up grants have been provided |
| have also added to pressure for Texas Schools to | | | | that will give $480,000 to four new academies that will |
| increase academic performance of its students in | | | | open in fall of 2007. Educators and Administrators of |
| these areas. Finally, awareness of an increasing | | | | Texas Schools are hopeful that the launch of the |
| achievement gap between races and economic levels | | | | T-STEM programs in 2007 will reverse the trend of |
| has prompted Texas Schools to make these changes. | | | | the growing achievement gap. |
| According to Texas Governor Rick Perry, "The | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| T-STEM initiative focuses our efforts where they are | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| needed most- in areas where there are a high number | | | | private K-12 schools. |
| of disadvantaged students who are too often left in | | | | |