Washington, DC - Congresswoman Johnson today congratulated National Math and Science Initiative, Inc. for receiving $2,252,355 for a new five-year Teacher Quality Partnership grant aimed at raising student achievement by improving instruction in our schools.  This grant, which was one of only 12 funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used to reform traditional university teacher preparation programs as well as create teacher residency programs for professionals from other fields entering the teaching profession.  Congresswoman Johnson is the only member of Congress in North Texas region to have voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The partnerships announced today are comprised of high-need school districts and their high-need schools in collaboration with an institution of higher education and its schools with emphasis of education, arts, and sciences. Of the 12 grants announced today, National Math and Science Initiative, Inc. will focus on improving their teacher residency programs, which follow the medical model in which residents are placed in schools with comprehensive induction and extensive support.

“Ensuring our students excel in the field of math and science is essential to America’s ability to compete globally,” Congresswoman Johnson said, “The National Math and Science Initiative is an extraordinary program, and I am so pleased they are receiving this grant.  This is beyond an educational grant. It is a job creation grant.  We are investing in our future mathematicians and scientists who will help lead this country in the years ahead.”

The National Math and Science Initiative, Inc. (NMSI) which is based in Dallas, Texas, was formed following a report issued in 2005 by the National Academies entitled "Rising Above the Gathering Storm." The title aptly reflects the urgency of the problem and the need for a solution.  Funding will be used for NMSI’s expansion of the UTeach program. Originated at The University of Texas at Austin in 1997, the UTeach program enables students majoring in math, science, or computer science to receive full teaching certification without adding time or cost to their degrees.  About 45 percent of the UTeach graduates teach in high-need schools.  The national replication process is directed by NMSI in conjunction with the UTeach Institute.

“This grant will help create a new generation of math and science teachers in the United States,” said Tom Luce, CEO of NMSI.  “Our nation needs an additional 280,000 math and science teachers by 2015, and the UTeach program is playing a key role in providing those teachers.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.