National Math and Science Initiative Awards $12 million to Endow UTeach Program at 12 Universities

Regional recipients include University of North Texas and The University of Texas at Dallas              

DALLAS, April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) today awarded $12 million in challenge grants to endow the highly-successful UTeach programs at 12 American universities.

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One million dollars was awarded to each of 12 universities that have raised matching funds and met performance benchmarks for implementing the UTeach program to recruit and train college students to become math and science teachers.

The recipient universities are Florida State University, Louisiana State University, Northern Arizona University, Temple University, University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Irvine, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Florida, University of Houston, University of North Texas (UNT), University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), and Western Kentucky University.

The grants were announced at a special event at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas to spotlight the impact of the UTeach program on education in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where three major universities are implementing the program: The University of North Texas, The University of Texas at Arlington and The University of Texas at Dallas.  UNT and UT Dallas were in the first group of UTeach programs in 2008, making them eligible for the one million matching grants announced today. It is estimated the North Texas programs will produce approximately 800 math and science teachers in the next five years, providing a needed infusion of expertise in math and science for area schools and impacting nearly a half a million students.  

"These grants will ensure that these universities can continue producing the math and science teachers of tomorrow.  Our country needs well-prepared teachers who can spark the imagination of our students and equip them for the challenges of tomorrow," said NMSI CEO Sara Martinez Tucker. "No program is more effective at that preparation than UTeach."

Originated at The University of Texas at Austin in 1997, the UTeach program enables students majoring in math, science, or computer science to receive full teaching certification without adding time or cost to their degrees. Eighty-eight percent of UTeach graduates from the UT Austin program become teachers, and 80 percent are still in the classroom after five years. Approximately half teach in high-needs schools.

NMSI, in partnership with the UTeach Institute has expanded the teacher preparation program nationwide since 2008.  The program is currently being implemented at 34 universities, including the original UT Austin site.  As a result of a recent $21.25 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NMSI will be able to expand the program to 10 Tier One research universities this year.  More than 6,000 students are currently enrolled in the UTeach program.  That enrollment is expected to double over the next five years.

See comments by North Texas university leaders about UTeach, the impact of the UTeach program at North Texas universities and more details about the UTeach program.

About National Math and Science Initiative: NMSI, a non-profit organization, was launched in 2007 by top leaders in business, education, and science to transform math and science education in the United States.  NMSI has gained national recognition for training K-12 teachers across the country to inspire students to succeed in math, science and English classes as well as recruiting more college students to become dedicated math and science teachers through the UTeach program.  NMSI's AP program – which includes intensive training for teachers, open enrollment, additional study sessions for students and incentives for success –  is increasing achievement in 462 schools in 18 states. The NMSI Teacher Training program has trained over 60,000 teachers to deliver more rigorous lessons in the classroom and was selected by PARCC as a premier partner to deliver common core teacher training. The UTeach program, which NMSI is expanding nationally in conjunction with The University of Texas UTeach Institute, is transforming teacher preparation in 34 universities in 16 states. For more information, please visit www.nms.org.

Inaugural funding for NMSI was provided by the Exxon Mobil Corporation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. 

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

SOURCE National Math and Science Initiative