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In December 2001, AIP, along with other members of the K-12 Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education Coalition, signed this letter to conferees on the FY 2002 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill:Intersociety Letter to Conferees on FY 2002 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations"Dear Representative/Senator "As a member of the Labor, Health & Human Services and Education Conference Committee charged with reconciling differences between the House and Senate FY 2002 appropriations for the Department of Education, you will be called upon to make some difficult choices. We encourage you to consider the recommendations of the K-12 Coalition for Science, Math, Engineering and Technology (SMET) Education. "We urge you to fund the Math and Science Partnerships in Title II, Part B, of H.R.1, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization, at the $450 million level as agreed to by the Education Conferees. "According to the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress, student science scores for grades 4 and 8 are flat and there has been a slight decline in scores for grade 12 since the assessment was last administered in 1996. This report further underscores the need for reform and investment in math and science education, particularly at a time when our economy, national security and technological advances are heavily dependent on the quality of our future workforce. "The scientific, mathematic, engineering and technology community has long been concerned with the state of K-12 SMET education. To increase student learning in these areas, and enable the United States to compete globally with a strong, technologically literate workforce, we need to commit a significant amount of resources for SMET education now. "Full funding of the Math and Science Partnerships will better prepare
our students to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Thank you for considering
our recommendations." |
