Action Domains |
SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Inez M. Tenenbaum, State Superintendent FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EDITOR'S NOTE: More information about SCCMS is available online at www.sccoalition.org. COLUMBIA - Four of South Carolina's leading corporations have joined forces with the State Department of Education to create a coalition that will support high-quality math and science education for the state's K-12 public schools. "This is an exciting day for South Carolina schools," said State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum. "This coalition will build on our past successes in technology, math and science and help us launch into new worlds of innovation. This is a great example of a public/private partnership that will greatly benefit our students statewide." The founding partners for South Carolina's Coalition for Mathematics and Science - BMW Manufacturing Co., DuPont, Michelin North America and Progress Energy - see the partnership as an effective means of utilizing resources. "Schools with great performance records increase a community's quality of life, attracting new residents and business," said Progress Energy Community Relations Manager Mindy Taylor. "Investing in quality science and mathematics education has become a key objective of our corporate philanthropy." BMW Manufacturing Co. Public Affairs Manager Bobby Hitt thinks the new coalition will produce positive results. "We expect that SCCMS will help schools design and deliver exemplary science and mathematics instruction because of the focus on using high quality research to guide our efforts." According to SCCMS Interim Director Tom Peters, the founding partners have provided more than $1.5 million to math and science education in South Carolina since 1997. "By continuing to channel that level of financial commitment into the coalition, their investment will be better able to make a significant statewide impact." Peters explained that SCCMS will divide its work into five areas, with the first focus on Advocacy. "South Carolina's improvement in math and science over the past five years has been dramatic, but many people in our own state don't realize that," Peters said. "Our eighth-graders, for example, have the greatest gains of any state on federal standardized tests. We should be highlighting and encouraging that kind of academic progress." Peters said two of the other five areas - Professional Development and Research and Development - will build upon successful programs already in place. "One of the state's most effective professional development programs is the coaching initiative that allows us to embed training for teachers into their daily schedules," Peters explained. "Math and science coaches discuss upcoming lessons with teachers, observe instruction and then provide feedback on performance. It's a very effective of training educators because the coach is available onsite throughout the instructional process." The state's 60 coaches currently serve 33,000 students and more than 1,700 teachers in 60 schools. Last school year, 785 teachers in 33 schools averaged 60 hours of training each - the equivalent of eight extra days - through interactions with coaches. Peters said the research and development arm of SCCMS will support programs such as Math Out of a Box, a K-5 research-based math curriculum developed by Clemson University's College of Engineering and Science that uses a hands-on approach and is tied to South Carolina and national math standards. The other two areas of focus for the coalition are Instructional Materials Support and Program Evaluation. "Membership in SCCMS is open to anyone," said John Holton, State Department of Education Math and Science Coordinator. "The founding partners are the catalysts to get this off of the ground, but we welcome - and need - the input of other interested persons." Holton said a summit planned for April 14-15 will allow 100 invited leaders from business and industry, public policy, education and the community to further define the coalition's specific work plans. Persons interested in attending should contact Peters at 864-656-1863. "This coalition is important for the economic growth of our state," Tenenbaum said. "It's an effective means of utilizing resources to increase teacher capacity and give our students a competitive edge in today's world." |
Advocacy
Professional
Instructional
Innovation Research & Evaluation
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Founding Partners BMW Manufacturing Co. |
Copyright ® 2005 SCCMS |
South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics and Science,
Sears House at Clemson University, |