NSF PR 96-33 - June 5, 1996
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NSB Approves Multimillion Dollar Award for San Diego's System-Wide Education Reform
San Diego is one of three cities named to receive a
National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for system-wide
reform in K-12 science, mathematics and technology
education.
NSF's governing body, the National Science Board,
has approved San Diego's reform plan as well as proposals
offered by the Milwaukee, Wis. and St. Louis, Mo.
urban school systems.
Negotiations are underway for the five-year $15 million
grant San Diego's Unified School District will receive
under NSF's Urban Systemic Initiatives (USI).
"We are happy that San Diego, with its immense diversity,
is undertaking this challenging but satisfying reform
effort for the betterment of its children," Luther
S. Williams, NSF Assistant Director for Education
and Human Resources, said.
According to Williams, San Diego is adopting a comprehensive
reform plan including increased graduation requirements
in math and science for all students and better support
to students through instructional improvements.
Local policy makers are also revising course and curriculum
content within the unified school district, incorporating
a standards-based approach.
Individually, San Diego schools will employ a concept
of Comprehensive Site Planning to address the needs
for sustained improvements in math, science and technology
learning. The schools will establish a cadre of key
teachers, whose attention will be focused on improving
student performance. Technology links to all classrooms
is a key component of the city's urban education reform
initiative.
A portion of the funding from NSF's system-wide reform
program will give teachers ongoing professional development
opportunities through summer camps, district centers
and area colleges and universities.
"As we continue to promote these system reforms in
math, science and technology education, we have seen
the accomplishments that are possible. I have every
reason to expect that San Diego 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 asked
to develop a plan of system-wide reform in standards,
student achievement, policy development, resource
allocation and support from the local community.
Nine cities received USI funding in 1994. Seven more
received funding in 1995. San Diego, Milwaukee and
St. Louis are the first cities chosen to receive funding
in 1996.
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