The Math and Science Teacher Initiative, awarded to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, is a Congressionally-directed grant, sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein, to address California's critical math and science teacher shortage.
California continues to face a shortage of well-qualified, single subject credentialed math and science teachers, especially in rural and high poverty areas of the state.�These teachers, particularly at the secondary level, are critical to imbuing students with the core content knowledge required by an economy that is increasingly reliant on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.�As noted in many studies and reports, including Critical Path Analysis of California’s Science and Mathematics Teacher Preparation System�(http://www.ccst.us/publications/2007/2007TCPA.pdf),state leaders are actively addressing the problem, but have not yet been able to close the gap. �Now, through this grant, the Chancellor’s Office is taking a strategic leadership role, as a major supplier of students who go on to obtain teaching credentials, to help develop and prepare math and science majors for teaching careers.�
The Chancellor’s Office is working with six (6) California Community Colleges (Allan Hancock College, Cabrillo College, El Camino College, San Joaquin Delta College, College of the Canyons, and Santa Rosa Junior College) in its implementation.�The overall strategy of this effort is to make use of existing projects (such as Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA), Career Technical Education – Teacher Preparation Pipeline, and the University of California’s Aurora Project) and infrastructure to identify, recruit, retain, and transfer students in math and science to four-year institutions with teacher credentialing programs.�Campuses are expected to create an intersegmental system of student support, field experiences, and mentoring specifically for students of math and science who demonstrate an interest in getting a single subject teaching credential.�The grant, spanning two years, will end in June 2011.�The project will identify measurable outcomes that can be used to develop an institutionalized process at community colleges.�The resulting Centers of Excellence can then share best practices with other campuses and systems.���
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For additional information regarding this grant, please contact Patti Blank, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Academic Affairs Division, at 916-322-4260.
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Math and Science Teacher Iniative Grant Program Information Sheet
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