Texas Governor Rick Perry's Master Science Teacher Initiative Gov. Perry Proposes Master Science Teacher Program For Texas Schools
Mar. 13, 2002
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/pressreleases/PressRelease.2002-03-13.3643/viewAUSTIN - Governor Rick Perry today proposed a Master Science Teacher Program for Texas aimed at better preparing our state's schoolchildren in the core subject areas of science. Perry believes academic success produced by the state's Master Reading Teacher Program and being established through the state's Master Math Teacher Program can be duplicated in the science classroom.
"It's time to do for science what we have done for reading and math in Texas," Perry said. "This Master Science Teacher Program will spotlight scientific achievement in the classroom and ensure our students will be better prepared for college and the technology jobs of the future."
Under Perry's Master Science Teacher Program, science academies would be established for teachers seeking to expand their knowledge of the core subject areas of science. Teachers would also have the opportunity to learn about advances in the ever-changing field of scientific discovery. Teachers receiving additional certification in science, who agree to teach science and act as mentors to other teachers, would be eligible for a $5,000 annual stipend.
Perry announced his proposal during a visit to the Girlstart program headquarters in Austin. Girlstart is a non-profit organization that encourages and empowers girls in mathematics, science, technology, and engineering. Girlstart programs include schools, online classes, as well as summer and Saturday camps for girls. Male eighth-grade students currently score 20 points higher on the science portion of the Third International Math and Science Survey (TIMSS) test than their female classmates.
"We need all the scientists, engineers and technology specialists we can train in Texas, regardless of gender, ethnicity, background or mailing address" Perry said.
In the last legislative session, Perry championed and signed into law a Master Math Initiative to better prepare our state's fifth-grade through eighth-grade students in the subject of algebra. Under the $30 million initiative, a Master Mathematics Teacher Certification Program has been established to develop a corps of math experts in the teaching profession who, once certified, are eligible for a $5,000 annual bonus. After-school and summer school programs will assist struggling students get up to grade-level.
As Lt. Governor, Perry helped champion the Master Reading Teacher Program for Texas.
Gov. Rick Perry Calls for 'Master Science Teacher' Initiative Also Calls for Expansion of Technology in Schools
Apr. 18, 2002
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/pressreleases/PressRelease.2002-04-18.3423/viewTEMPLE - Gov. Rick Perry today called for the creation of a Master Science Teacher program as one step toward making science a top educational priority in Texas schools.
Perry made the announcement during a visit to Temple High School, where he emphasized the importance of science instruction and technology in preparing students for success in college and the business world.
"If we give our children a solid foundation in the core subjects of science, while fully utilizing the educational potential of classroom technology, more Texans will graduate prepared for college and the jobs of the future," Perry said.
The importance of improving science education is underscored by projections that careers in health care, engineering, biotechnology and information technology will be the leading employment areas in the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
"My education plan makes science a top educational priority in Texas, focusing greater attention on physics, chemistry and biology, and putting our students on the pathway to greater opportunity," Perry said.
The proposal is the latest in a detailed education plan for improving Texas schools that the governor has announced over the past several weeks.
Perry said the Master Science Teacher program would be patterned after the highly successful Master Reading Teacher program the legislature created in 1999, and the Master Math Teacher program proposed by the governor and created last year.
Under the Perry plan, teachers - who take a rigorous course of study and become certified as Master Science Teachers - would receive an annual $5,000 stipend. They would also be required to return to the classroom to teach and help train other science teachers on best methods of instruction.
As part of the Master Science Teacher proposal, Perry said Texas should also create science academies to train science teachers on the latest and best techniques for science education.
Perry also cited the need for programs that provide intensive instruction and after-school, as well as summer instruction in science courses to eliminate the disparity in academic performance among minority and female students.
According to the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, eighth grade Texas girls scored 20 percentage points below their male counterparts on the 1999 test. Texas data reflects that last year, African-American and Hispanic students scored 24 percentage points below white students on biology end-of-course exams.
"I want all students to know that they can aim for the stars," the governor said. "Science is important to all students, and we must work to change the culture so that the doors of scientific opportunity are open to Texans of all walks of life."
While noting that the state has taken the national lead in putting technology in the classroom, Perry said it has not done enough to ensure teachers have the training and support they need to fully utilize broadband Internet access, multimedia and wireless technology.
"If a teacher has access to classroom technology tools, but lacks training and tech support, the only guaranteed outcome is a higher electric bill," Perry said.
To address that concern, Perry proposed:
- Expanding professional development not just for teachers but also for principals and other administrators so that schools can implement plans that take full advantage of the benefits technology offers.
- Exploring distance learning opportunities, such as those offered by the University of Texas Virtual Charter School, so more students can get their lessons on-line, and participate in on-line classes. Distance learning also offers students in small school districts the opportunity to take a broader range of advanced academic classes that otherwise are unavailable to them.
- Increasing the state's technology allotment from $30 to $35 per student to help schools pay for improvements in technology in the classroom.
- Moving from paper tests to on-line testing over the next few years and to on-line diagnostic tools that will better enable parents and teachers to track their children's academic needs.
Over the past several weeks, Perry has detailed his early childhood education plans to ensure children are ready to begin learning when they enter school, and dropout prevention and recovery programs to ensure Texas students graduate from high school.
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