RISD School Board President Kim Quirk, TI Foundation Executive Director Ann Pomykal and Excellence in Education Foundation Director Elizabeth Hart (front row) celebrate the announcement of the grant along with members of the RISD Board of Directors, the Excellence in Education Foundation board members and staff from the National Math & Science Initiative.

The Texas Instruments Foundation recently awarded a 1.4 million grant to Richardson ISD, in conjunction with the district's Excellence in Education Foundation, to expand the Advanced Placement (AP)™ program throughout the district.

As part of its commitment to preparing students for high tech careers, the TI Foundation supports programs that increase the number and diversity of secondary school graduates who are math-and-science proficient and who choose STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.

"The TI Foundation began working with the AP program more than a decade ago, and we have found it to be a very effective program with proven outcomes of increased student participation and success," said Ann Pomykal, TI Foundation executive director. "It's also an effective tool to recognize excellence in teaching the vigorous AP coursework."

The grant will be administered by the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), a non-profit organization launched in 2007 to transform math and science education in the United States.

NMSI's AP program is open to all students in participating high schools who are eligible for AP classes. Program components include study sessions outside of normal school hours as well as intense training and incentives for the AP teachers and teachers in grades 6-12 who will build the pipeline of students who are AP-ready. Access to the college-level AP courses not only gives students the opportunity to earn college credit, but also increases their chances of succeeding in college. Students who pass an AP exam are three times more likely to complete their college education. For minority students, that multiplier is even greater: African-American and Hispanic students who succeed in AP courses are four times more likely to graduate from college.

"We are excited about the opportunities that the Texas Instruments Foundation is providing our students," explains Dr. Kay Waggoner, superintendent of RISD. "The grant will allow us to work with NMSI to increase the number of students in AP and pre-AP courses and the rigor of these courses. These efforts are a vital part of RISD's emphasis on college and career readiness."

"This innovative program will raise the academic bar and open doors to college for more students by providing them with more rigorous, project-based coursework to help them succeed in the highly competitive fields of science, technology, engineering, and math," said Sara Martinez, CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative. "The partnership with these high schools will help make a huge impact on young students' lives in Texas."

"It was a pleasure working with the TI Foundation to develop this grant," said Elizabeth Hart, President and CEO of the Excellence in Education Foundation. "We welcome the involvement of foundation and corporate partners with us in district initiatives that have such a profound impact upon student learning and achievement."