It started with Northrup-Grumman wanting to help students from military families by bringing in NMSI to create centers of college readiness in their schools. Then Boeing joined in and helped fund more schools. Now, in a true public-private partnership to improve student achievement, the Dr. Janet Baresi, Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools, has budgeted to fund half the program costs and private funders have come in to fund expansion in three more schools. Truly phenomenal progress in AP that is now lifting the entire state! GO OK!!
Tee Edwards, a student at one of our best NMSI schools, says her AP courses have helped her prepare for college by honing her time management skills
Oklahoma
Students in National Math and Science Initiative Program
Excel
on Advanced Placement Exams
Oklahoma City – Hundreds of high school students in Oklahoma are headed
back to school this year with higher scores on their Advanced Placement* (AP)
exams thanks to the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). NMSI’s Comprehensive
AP program works to improve student performance in rigorous math, science and
English courses.
Among the six state schools from Lawton Public Schools and Mid-Del
School District that currently partner with NMSI, the number of students who
earned a passing score of three or more on the math, science and English five-point
AP exam scale increased by more than 50 percent within the program’s first year
compared to 8.6 percent in Oklahoma and 7.2 percent nationally. The results
were even more impressive in AP math and science courses, where passing exam scores
improved by 150 percent in the first year compared to 14.6 percent in Oklahoma
and 8.2 percent nationally. Students who earn passing scores are eligible for college
credit at most colleges and universities.
“Oklahoma’s students and teachers are a testament to what’s possible
when we work together to explore untapped potential in the classroom,” said
Sara Martinez Tucker, CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative. “By
increasing access to rigorous courses and giving teachers the training and
resources they need to help their students excel, we’re preparing the next generation
for success – both in college and future careers.”
Before the NMSI program was introduced to six Oklahoma schools, African-American,
Hispanic and female students accounted for just 15.9 percent of passing scores on
AP math, science and English exams. After just one year, minorities and females
accounted for 24 percent of the state’s passing scores on AP exams.
“This significant improvement
among our minority students is welcome news as we continually work to close
achievement gaps,” said state superintendent Janet Barresi. “We must ensure all
of our students are prepared for the rigors of college coursework and their
future careers. This is of particular importance in STEM subjects, as science,
technology, engineering and math skills are in great demand in the work force.
The work of NMSI and corporate partners helps us ensure we are reaching more
students and improving their chances of future success.”
Policymakers and educators gathered at the state capitol today to
celebrate the improved AP test results. Participants included Dr. Janet
Barresi, Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction; Nathan Slate,
site manager at Northrop Grumman Corporation; Dale Fleury, senior regional director
for NMSI; and Oklahoma students.
At the event, NMSI announced a new public private partnership with the
Oklahoma Department of Education to implement the comprehensive AP Program
combined with the NMSI STEM teacher training program at Tulsa Memorial, Ulysses
S. Grant and Enid high schools. The three schools combined are expected to
increase passing scores in AP math, science and English by 253 percent over the
three-year life of the grant.
"We are proud to be able to provide grants and
partner with NMSI's AP program for military families," said Adrian B.
Talley, deputy director of the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity. “The expansion of this program for students
attending Oklahoma high schools opens a new level of opportunity and
possibility for children and their peers to excel in math and science. This investment in the AP program for math
and science is truly transformational and raises the bar academically in our
public schools. We are pushing for this
program to be in all our schools because the results are proven, consistent,
and speak for themselves."
Eisenhower High School and Carl Albert were the
first two schools to adopt the NMSI program in 2011. Earlier this year, Eisenhower
High School was recognized as NMSI “School of the Year” for record-setting
gains in AP achievement. In those two years, Eisenhower and Carl Albert
high schools AP math, science and English passing exam scores increased by 116
percent. This number nearly doubled in math and science disciplines where AP
passing scores increased by 229 percent – compared to 17 percent nationally.
“Over the past couple of years, there has been a dramatic increase in
the number of my students who want to pursue chemistry or a career in
engineering,” said Katherine Hergenrether, AP chemistry and calculus teacher at
Eisenhower High School. “My goal is to make future scientists, engineers and
technology leaders in the world, and I know that I’m doing that with the help
of NMSI.”
The remaining four schools, Lawton, MacArthur, Del City and Midwest
City high schools are entering their second year.
NMSI’s comprehensive AP program fosters sustained academic achievement
in high schools across the nation by providing open enrollment in AP math, science and English classes for all
students, increased time on task for students through special study sessions,
intensive teacher training, support from master teachers and incentives for
teachers and students. During the 2012-2013 school year, the program
expanded to reach 530 schools in 22 states.
About National Math and Science Initiative
NMSI, a non-profit organization, was
launched in 2007 by top leaders in business, education, and science to
transform education in the United States. NMSI has received national
recognition for training K-12 teachers and improving student performance through
the rapid expansion of these highly successful programs: NMSI's Comprehensive AP program, NMSI Teacher
Training program, and UT Austin’s UTeach program.
Inaugural funding for NMSI, was provided by the Exxon Mobil Corporation,
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell
Foundation. For more information, visit
www.nms.org.
*Advanced Placement and AP are
registered trademarks of the College Board.