Press Release 96-031
NSB Approves Multimillion Dollar Award for St. Louis' System-Wide Education Reform

June 5, 1995

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

St. Louis is one of three cities named to receive a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for developing systemwide reforms in K-12 science, mathematics and technology education.

NSF's governing body, the National Science Board, has approved the St. Louis plan as well as proposals offered by the Milwaukee, Wis. and San Diego, Calif. urban school systems.

Negotiations are underway for the five-year, $15 million grant the St. Louis and University City Schools system will receive under NSF's Urban Systemic Initiatives (USI).

"We are happy that St. Louis will be undertaking this challenging, satisfying, although somewhat risky business of reform for the betterment of its children," Luther S. Williams, NSF Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources, said.

The St. Louis area schools are adopting a four-pronged reform plan, according to Williams, which includes a series of professional development opportunities for teachers, changes to curricula and instruction, increased student support programs and other internal actions.

The schools themselves will focus on "math and science fundamentals which will permit students to participate fully in a technological society," education officials say. The school leaders have developed an educational approach to attract increasing numbers of students into mathematics, science and technology careers.

"As we continue to promote system-wide reforms in math, science and technology education, we have seen the accomplishments that are possible. I have every reason to expect that St. Louis schools will stimulate high performance from their students measured by their achievement," Williams said.

Twenty-seven cities are now eligible for NSF support to fund a portion of their science, math and technology education improvements since NSF's urban reform initiatives began in 1993. These cities have the largest numbers of school-age children living in poverty. NSF purposefully took on some of the nation's hardest possible cases, says Williams, in an attempt to focus reform where it is most needed.

Starting in 1993, each eligible city received $100,000 from NSF to undertake a self-study of its K-12 system of math and science education. Each city was then asked to develop a plan of system-wide reform addressing critical issues of standards, student achievement, policy development, resource allocation and a system of support from the local community.

Nine cities received USI funding in 1994. Seven more received funding in 1995. St. Louis, San Diego and Milwaukee are the first cities chosen to receive funding in 1996.

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Bill Noxon, NSF (703) 292-8070 wnoxon@nsf.gov
Paula Duckett, NSF (703) 292-8690 pduckett@nsf.gov

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of $6.06 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

 Get News Updates by Email 

Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: http://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/