Grant to aid math, science teachers
June 19, 2006 - Posted in Education News, Financial AidUsing a $873,934 grant, Baldwin Park Unified School District will train educators in teaching math and science this summer.
Around the state, 17 school districts received $13.2 million in federal grants from the California Mathematics and Science Partnership for professional development, the California Department of Education announced June 9.
In Baldwin Park, 30 fifth- and eighth-grade science teachers and 30 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade math teachers will enroll in a two-week, intensive training program in August.
“They’re going to learn about lesson study, and they’re going to work on developing their lessons, hands-on activities, student engagement,” said Janice Riddle, the district’s director of student achievement.
Throughout the year, teachers will work with teaching coaches, observe other classrooms and co-teach lessons through the district’s partnerships with Occidental College in Eagle Rock and the Urban Education Partnership, according to Riddle.
The federal grants are intended to help districts with high numbers of socioeconomically disadvantaged students improve in math and science.
“These federal grants are needed now more than ever before because today we are asking teachers to be highly qualified and students to take more rigorous coursework,” State Superintendent Jack O’Connell said. “These grants will help disadvantaged students with their math and science courses at critical grade levels so they can meet the state’s graduation requirements in the future.”
The district also wants to encourage students when they enter high school to take science classes that aren’t necessarily required, such as biology, chemistry, physics, physics, physiology and anatomy, astronomy and the study of natural disasters.
Copyright © 2006 Los Angeles Newspaper Group