California faces a shortage of fully credentialed and qualified math and science teachers, especially in rural and high poverty areas of the state. The detriment of this shortage is becoming more manifest each year as fewer students attain the requisite skills in math and science to succeed in today’s workforce. For example, nearly 27,000 students, representing seven percent (7%) of all students from the Class of 2006, failed the math section of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) and thus failed to graduate. This high failure rate should not be a surprise given that 32 percent of middle school math teachers and 23 percent of high school math teachers in 2005-2006 did not possess a single subject credential in mathematics. The stakes are high for California because it has become clear that for California, and the nation, to remain economically competitive, it must educate a workforce with the knowledge and skills required by an economy becoming increasingly reliant on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
This project will meet the intent of the congressional language authorizing this grant “for Math Science Teacher Initiative” by establishing clear course pathways, (see link below to report, Critical Path Analysis of California’s Science and Mathematics Teacher Preparation System, from the California Council on Science and Technology) for community college students to become math and science teachers in secondary schools in California. It will improve the ability of students to become teachers in math and science and will increase the number of math and science teachers in secondary schools. The Chancellor’s Office, California Community Colleges is responsible for the coordination of this grant and 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 College in its implementation. The overall strategy of this effort is to leverage existing projects to identify, recruit, retain, and transfer students in math and science to four-year institutions with teacher credential programs. The project will provide student support, field experiences and teacher mentors to enable students to meet their educational goals. The outcomes of the projects will be replicated and shared with other projects.
For additional information regarding this grant, please contact Patti Doris, California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Academic Affairs Division, at 916-322-4260, or
pdoris@cccco.edu.