As reported in FYI
#43, the National Science Board issued a statement earlier
this year to Congress and the White House, urging that the Math
and Science Partnership program at NSF be sustained, and fully
funded, "over the long term." President Bush's FY 2005
budget request for NSF would cut the Partnerships' funding by 42.4
percent, from $139.17 million in FY 2004 to $59.17 million in FY
2005, as the first step in phasing out the program.
The text of the National Science Board statement, signed by Board
Chairman Warren M. Washington, follows:
"Education is a core mission of the National Science
Foundation (NSF). NSF not only promotes research, but also
shares in the responsibility for promoting quality math and
science education as intertwining objectives at all levels
of education across the United States. NSF's highly competitive
peer-review process is second to none for openly and objectively
identifying, reviewing, selecting, funding and providing stewardship
for the very best science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) proposals and programs in research and education.
"Science and mathematics competency is becoming
ever more essential to individuals and nations in an increasingly
global workforce and economy. STEM education is a special challenge
for the highly mobile US population, because it demands a sequential,
cumulative acquisition of knowledge and skills. To raise US
student performance to a world-class level, all components
of the US education system must achieve a consensus on a common
core of mathematics and science knowledge and skills. These
core competencies must be embedded consistently in instructional
materials and practices everywhere and at all levels, without
precluding locally held prerogatives about the content of curricula.
"The NSF's Math and Science Partnerships (MSPs)
are important tools for addressing a critical - but currently
very weak - link between pre-college and higher education.
This major new national initiative, outlined in NSF's 2002
Authorization Act, has received strong and broad support from
Congress and was signed into law by President Bush. It provides
for the collaboration between pre-college and college to promote
excellence in teaching and learning; therefore facilitating
the transitions for students from kindergarten through the
baccalaureate in STEM disciplines. The added benefit for our
nation is those students who do not choose STEM careers become
the informed scientifically literate voting citizens we need
for the 21st Century.
"We do not have the luxury of time for further
political debate on how to bring our nation's education system
up to a world-class level in science and mathematics - much
less to achieve world leadership in these critical competencies.
NSF has the mandate, depth of experience, and well-established
relationships to build the partnerships for excellence in STEM
education. The Board, therefore, strongly urges that continued,
full funding of the MSP Program at NSF be sustained over the
long term as an essential component of a coordinated Federal
effort to promote national excellence in science, mathematics
and engineering."
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