Connecticut Receives Grant Of

$13 Million To Foster Scientists

HARTFORD — Connecticut, in partnership with the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) Education Foundation, is being awarded a grant of up to $13.2 million from the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) Advanced Placement training and incentive program, Governor M. Jodi Rell announced recently. NMSI is a new nonprofit organization designed to help America maintain its global leadership position in technological innovation.

The grant will help fund training and incentive programs for Advanced Placement (AP) and pre-AP courses and exams for the next six years. A major goal is to prepare students to excel in math, science, and English and encourage them to explore science- and technology-based careers.

Following a highly competitive process involving 28 applicants, Connecticut was one of only seven states selected to receive NMSI’s first grants.

Launched in March 2007, NMSI was developed in response to a call for action by the National Academies’ 2005 blue ribbon panel report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.” According to the panel of 20 experts, improving American students’ performance in math and science coursework is the most effective way to increase US competitiveness in a global market.

Exxon Mobil Corp announced its support of the initiative with a commitment of $125 million. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation are also funding the program.

CBIA tentatively plans to work with high schools in the following ten Connecticut cities and towns: Ansonia, Coventry, Danbury, East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, New London, Putnam, Stamford, and Waterbury .

The grant will be awarded to CBIA’s Education Foundation along with its supporting partners: the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Connecticut Department of Higher Education, the Connecticut Academy for Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, and the Connecticut Science Center.

NMSI is an innovative nonprofit organization created to scale up programs proven to positively impact math and science education in the U.S. For more information about NMSI, visit NationalMathAndScience.org.