(Washington, DC) - U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) today seized the opportunity to assure that the U.S. is equipped with an abundance of qualified, well-equipped math and science teachers in grades K-12.

Ackerman, a former New York school teacher, voted in support of the “10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds” Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362).

“In their esteemed report on U.S. competitiveness, the National Academies told us that the #1 thing we can do as a country for our future economic health is invest in our science and math teachers” said Ackerman. “That’s what this bill does and I am proud to support it.”

The bill – authored by Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) and supported by Ackerman – enacts the foremost recommendation of the National Academies’ report Rising Above the Gathering Storm: improve K-12 math and science education.

That 2005 report was issued by a distinguished spectrum of national leaders in academia, industry and government.  Their findings were alarming.  Essentially, they noted that without immediate action, the U.S. may not be able to maintain global leadership in innovation and education. 

Among the factors contributing to this conclusion, the panels found that in 2000 more than 85% of students in grades 5-9 were taught physical science by a teacher lacking a major or certification in the physical sciences.  In 1999, 68% of U.S. 8th grade students received instruction from a mathematics teacher who did not hold a degree or certification in mathematics.

Their solution for lasting improvements in science and math education:  teachers with a deep knowledge of their subject matter and effective teaching skills.

“When I ask many of today’s successful scientists and engineers why they decided to pursue careers in these fields, the most common answer I hear is that they were inspired by a great teacher at a young age” Ackerman added. “Every child deserves that chance – and we can make sure that our K-12 science and math teachers get the support they need to be as effective as possible in the classroom.” 

The “10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds” Science and Math Scholarship Act will:

• Create thousands of new teachers — with content and pedagogical expertise in their area of teaching — via the Noyce scholarship program at NSF.
• Create summer institutes and graduate programs that provide sustained, content-oriented professional development to teachers through Math Science Partnerships at NSF.
• Create centers for improvement of undergraduate education in STEM fields via the STEM Talent Expansion Program (STEP) program at NSF.

“To maintain our nation’s high standard of living, we will need to sustain our world-class science and technology enterprise that creates innovative new products and high-paying jobs,” said Ackerman. “To sustain that enterprise, we need a workforce that is prepared in a world-class math and science educational system. Well-qualified, well-trained teachers are the key.”

The legislation has been endorsed by a broad range of businesses and universities as well as industry and education groups, including the Business Roundtable, Association of American Universities, Council on Competitiveness, the College Board, Semiconductor Industry Association and the Business Software Alliance.

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