Making Changes Families Can Count On: Governor Gregoire Invests for World-Class Math and Science Education in Washington

For Immediate Release: December 11, 2006

Strategic investments in math and science will grow the economy and secure a bright future for students

SEATTLE � Governor Chris Gregoire today at Garfield High School in Seattle announced she will invest in math and the sciences to help teachers teach and to help Washington students learn. This will be the first comprehensive reform and investment in the state�s history.

Recent scores on math assessments have shown that our students deserve better math and science training. In addition to working to correct those deficiencies, Governor Gregoire is working to change the entire education system to include world-class learning opportunities and system-wide accountability.

�We already know that our students are not getting the math and science education they deserve and we know that our teachers don�t always have the tools to provide that education,� said Governor Gregoire. �The best way to grow our economy and secure a bright future for our students is to make comprehensive, smart, responsible and accountable investments in math and science now.�

Governor Gregoire�s math and science initiative will:

• Reduce class size to give students more individualized attention by meeting, for the first time, nationally recommended standard of one teacher for every 25 students;
  
• Recruit 750 additional math and science teachers and invest in training so teachers can expand their knowledge and strategies for teaching;
  
• Establish a bonus structure so that nationally certified teachers who teach in a challenging school will earn an additional $5000 per year and another $5000 if they teach math or science;
  
• Expand hands-on science instruction so that 1,000 additional classrooms can improve their science experience;
  
• Integrate math, science, technology and engineering with support from the private sector so that today�s math and science students can become tomorrow�s engineers, designers, computer programmers, builders and scientists;
  
• Help students who are struggling with the WASL so that they have the tools they need to meet world-class standards;
  
• Help to standardize math curricula across Washington to bring our standards in line with international standards; and
  
• Increase access to math and science scholarships so that careers in these fields are more accessible to Washington students and employers are able to find qualified employees � right here in Washington.

�With personalized instruction, rigorous coursework, expanded opportunities and consistent support and encouragement, we can fundamentally change Washington education so that students will improve their math and science skills to compete for jobs in the global economy,� said Governor Gregoire.

Governor Gregoire made education her top priority and in 2006, she restored funding for voter-approved initiatives to reduce class sizes and provide more individual attention to students. She also invested in early learning so that Washington children arrive in kindergarten ready to learn and she provided support for students struggling to meet academic standards.

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