NSF PR 96-32 - June 5, 1996
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NSB Approves Multimillion Dollar Award for Milwaukee's
System-Wide Education Reform
Milwaukee is one of three cities named to receive a
National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for developing
systemwide reforms in K-12 science, mathematics and
technology education.
NSF's governing body, the National Science Board,
has approved Milwaukee's plan as well as proposals
offered by the San Diego, Calif. and St. Louis, Mo.
urban school systems. Negotiations are underway for
the five-year, $15 million grant Milwaukee will receive
under NSF's Urban Systemic Initiatives (USI).
"We are happy that Milwaukee will be undertaking this
challenging, satisfying, although somewhat risky business
of reform for the betterment of its children," Luther
S. Williams, NSF Assistant Director for Education
and Human Resources, said.
The Milwaukee School system is adopting a multi-faceted
reform plan, according to Williams, based on collaborative
relationships to improve the teaching of math and
science, to reduce achievement gaps among white, ethnic
and minority groups and to break artificial boundaries
between schools and the local community.
Technology will play a central role in Milwaukee school
reform. An inventory analysis and a survey of every
teacher and staff member in the system will attempt
to find where the greatest needs are in technology
development and usage. A five year goal is to provide
a fiber optic backbone in every school, a file server,
connection to the Internet and networked multimedia
computers on a ratio of one computer for every three
students.
Each school will operate as a "community of learners."
Improvements to teaching and learning will be emphasized.
A core group of teaching and mentoring leaders will
look to transform school communities into better learning
experiences for students.
"As we continue to promote these system-wide reforms
in math, science and technology education, we have
seen the accomplishments that are possible. I have
every reason to expect that Milwaukee schools will
stimulate high performance from their students measured
by their achievement," Williams said.
Twenty-seven cities are now eligible for NSF support
to fund a portion of their science, math and technology
education improvements since NSF's urban reform initiatives
began in 1993. These cities have the largest numbers
of school-aged children living in poverty. NSF purposefully
took on some of the hardest possible cases, says Williams,
in an attempt to focus reform where it is most needed.
Starting in 1993, each eligible city received $100,000
from NSF to undertake a self-study of its K-12 system
of math and science education. Each city was then
asked to develop a plan of system-wide reform addressing
critical issues of standards, student achievement,
policy development, resource allocation and a system
of support from the local community.
Nine cities received USI funding in 1994. Seven more
received funding in 1995. Milwaukee, San Diego and
St. Louis are the first cities chosen to receive funding
in 1996.
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