A group of twenty-eight corporations and educational institutions has announced the launch of a $20 million initiative to help prepare 100,000 new math and science teachers over the next decade.

Announced last week during the CGI America conference, the effort is a response to President Barack Obama’s call for changes in how the country prepares students to address the most pressing global challenges. To that end, 100Kin10 aims to create a funding base that will support as many as one hundred innovative programs focused on developing and/or retaining outstanding math and science teachers.

Funded by a total of $8.5 million in commitments from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the NewSchools Venture Fund, and the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the initial phase of the project will focus on the first three years and twenty thousand teachers. Carnegie, which is coordinating the effort, also is working with the U.S. Department of Education to leverage additional federal funds for the effort.

As part of the initiative, the New Teacher Project and the National Math and Science Initiative will work to increase the supply of math and science teachers, while other partners, including Google and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, will focus on retaining “excellent” STEM teachers and Creative Commons and Ashoka’s Changemakers will work to build momentum for the campaign. In addition, GOOD Corps is developing a social media-driven communication portal for organizations involved in achieving the 100Kin10 goal.

“100Kin10 is possible, and our students deserve it,” said Phillip Griffiths, co-chair of Opportunity Equation and professor emeritus of mathematics and former director at the Institute for Advanced Study. “As we outlined in our 2009 Opportunity Equation report, we know how to recruit, train, and retain excellent STEM teachers. If this country’s museums, schools, corporations, education organizations, and other potential partners come forward and commit to action, we will meet our goal.”

“Mobilization Aims Toward 100,000 New, Excellent Math and Science Teachers for Public Schools in Next 10 Years.” Carnegie Corporation of New York Press Release 6/29/11. Primary Subject: Education
Secondary Subject(s): Elementary and Secondary Education, Science/Technology
Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, National

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