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Policy Statements

In October 2001, AIP, along with other members of the K-12 Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Education Coalition, signed this second letter to conferees on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA):

Second Intersociety Letter to Conferees on Elementary and Secondary Education Act

"More than ever before, America's economic growth and national security depend on science and engineering advances. The undersigned industry, scientific, engineering, and educational organizations commend the House and Senate for including bipartisan provisions in the ESEA (H.R. 1) to improve K-12 science, math, engineering, and technology education. During the final debate on ESEA and appropriations for the Department of Education, we hope you will support strong funding for the Math and Science Partnerships in Title II of ESEA.

"Because our technology-driven economy is demanding more and more high-skilled workers, we are concerned that U.S. high school students on average are not performing well in math and science and fewer are pursuing degrees in technical fields. With this year's reform of the nation's main K-12 education law, Congress has an historic opportunity to help close this alarming gap.

"The Math and Science Partnership provisions in the House and Senate ESEA bills authorize merit-based partnerships between school districts, university science, math, and engineering departments, businesses, and educational organizations to improve teacher quality and student achievement in math and science. Providing strong funding for math and science in ESEA is critical because this legislation is the primary federal vehicle for improving teacher quality and learning across all states and school districts.

"We commend Congress and the administration for proposing Math and Science Partnerships as a way of improving federal efforts in this area and achieving greater state and local accountability and results. Because their scope and success will depend largely on the funding authorized and appropriated, we urge you to support the strongest possible funding for these partnerships. Thank you for taking our views in account."