WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama Thursday announced an expansion of the national effort to help U.S. students excel in science, technology, engineering and math.
Obama said the business-driven initiative, a non-profit organization called "Change the Equation," will spend $5 million in its first year replicating successful privately funded programs in 100 high-need schools and communities.
The programs will encourage girls to attend summer science camps, get more students engaged in robotics competitions and increase the number of students taking Advanced Placement math and science courses.
There will be professional development help for math teachers and an effort to increase the number of teachers who enter the profession with a STEM undergraduate degree.
There also will be a state-by-state "scorecard" to highlight areas for state-level improvement and help companies increase the impact of their engagement in STEM education.
Change the Equation, with 100 chief executives members, was founded by astronaut Sally Ride, former Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, Xerox Chief Executive Officer Ursula Burns, Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt and Eastman Kodak CEO Antonio Perez, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corp. of New York.
Change the Equation's three goals are to help produce better teachers, inspire children to learn and rally national commitment to improved science, technology, engineering and math education.
