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TI backs UTeach expansion at White House event
(06/10)
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| More than 50 undergraduate students each year are prepared for certification in math and science through the UTeach program. |
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TI's CEO Rich Templeton attended a White House event early this year and affirmed support for the rapid, national expansion of the UTeach program aimed at producing more K-12 math and science teachers.
"The shortage of math and science teachers has reached crisis proportions. This is about ensuring that we have an ecosystem that supports innovation in the U.S.," Templeton said.
During the event, President Barack Obama honored 108 award-winning teachers, highlighted the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) UTeach program and its supporters and announced additional universities that will be replicating the UTeach program.
"America's leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today, especially in science, math and engineering," said President Obama. "...(We) applaud the several new partnerships launched that will help meet our goal of moving American students from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade."
"The Administration's support for science research funding and STEM education are critical steps forward," Templeton said. "The more resources that can be directed toward proven, successful programs like UTeach, the farther we can advance STEM education. Teachers are where we can have the most impact, and the support of more corporations and foundations of NMSI and UTeach will accelerate deployment on a national level."
TI support for STEM programs
TI is a steadfast supporter of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. In 2009, TI and the TI Foundation contributed approximately $25 million in grants and other gifts to schools, colleges and educational programs. That includes the TI Foundation's $1.5 million investment last fall in UTeach to expand programs at the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas and to create a new UTeach program with NMSI at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Started at the University of Texas at Austin in 1997, UTeach has proven to be successful in increasing the quantity of STEM teachers. The expansion of the UTeach program will prepare over 4,500 STEM undergraduates as new math and science teachers by 2015 and 7,000 by 2018, impacting more than 20 million students during their teaching careers.
The Administration has estimated that the U.S. will need 280,000 additional mathematics and science teachers by 2015. In the crucial middle school prep years, more than two-thirds (69 percent) of the 5th – 8th grade students are being taught by math teachers who do not have a certificate in math. Ninety-three percent of students in those grades are being taught physical sciences by teachers with no degree or certificate in physical sciences.
Learn more about TI's support of education.
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