National Math and Science Initiative Announces $930,637 Grant from The Heinz Endowments to Expand AP Program in Pittsburgh Public Schools

DALLAS, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) announced that its comprehensive Advanced Placement* (AP) program is being expanded this fall to Pittsburgh Brashear High School and Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy (Sci Tech), thanks to a $930,637 grant from The Heinz Endowments. 

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"With this generous grant from The Heinz Endowments to implement NMSI's innovative program, these high schools will help increase the performance of students – particularly minority students and girls – and provide teachers with resources to help make a huge impact on young students' lives," said Sara Martinez Tucker, CEO of NMSI.

A special event was held at Pittsburgh Brashear High School to announce the expansion of the NMSI program to the schools in fall 2013. Qualifying scores for the two schools in AP math, science, and English are expected to increase by 292 percent over the life of the grant.

"We are very grateful to The Heinz Endowments for this generous gift to support the NMSI AP program at two of our schools.  Through this grant our advanced placement teachers will receive the intensive content training necessary to ensure student success on the AP exam," said Superintendent Linda Lane.  "We know that there is strong correlation between student success on AP exams and success in college." 

NMSI's Comprehensive AP program is open to all students' grades 6-12 in participating high schools who are eligible for AP classes.  Students who pass an AP exam are three times more likely to complete their college education. African Americans and Hispanic students who succeed in AP courses are four times more likely to graduate from college.

"Advocated access to AP courses will no doubt be a game changer for many PPS students, especially for those who have been traditionally left on the college preparation sidelines," said Stanley Thompson, director of The Heinz Endowments Education Program. "This initiative also should complement the district's work in advancing teacher effectiveness. Moreover, the Endowments sees the program as a legitimate bridge to college readiness, the Pittsburgh Promise and beyond."

"Pennsylvania's business community applauds the generous support of the philanthropic community for education improvement, and particularly the Heinz Endowments for its recent grant to expand the NMSI advanced placement program in Pittsburgh public schools," said David W. Patti, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Business Council. "Pennsylvania's economy is diverse, but every industry – agriculture, life sciences, energy, steel and advanced materials, finance and banking, engineering, and government – are reliant on people with strong math and science preparation.  The Heinz Endowments has made a strong investment in Pennsylvania's future."

About The Heinz Endowments: The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and a region that embraces diversity and inclusion.

About NMSI: NMSI, a non-profit organization, was launched in 2007 by top leaders in business, education, and science to transform education in the United States. NMSI has received national recognition for training K-12 teachers and improving student performance through the rapid expansion of these highly successful programs: NMSI's Comprehensive AP program, NMSI Teacher Training program, and UT Austin's UTeach program.  Inaugural funding for NMSI, was provided by the Exxon Mobil Corporation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.

For more information, visit www.nms.org.

*Advanced Placement and AP are registered trademarks of the College Board.

Media Contact:  Mary Ortiz, 214-346-1245, [email protected]­­­­

SOURCE National Math and Science Initiative