Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger came together with the heads of the
University of California and the California State universities on
Tuesday to announce an education initiative that sets out to
jump-start the Golden State’s faltering K-12 math and science
programs.
The proposal, dubbed the “California Teach” program,
aims to quadruple the state’s annual output of math and
science teachers within the next five years by encouraging
college-bound students to become teachers with an array of
incentives, including an expedited accreditation process,
internship opportunities and loan forgiveness.
“We are eager to bring the educational resources of the
University of California to help create better futures for our
state’s young people and to help preserve California’s
position of global economic leadership,” said UC President
Robert Dynes in a press release.
The initiative comes at a time when many believe the
state’s math and science programs are in desperate need of
help.
California eighth graders are currently among the nation’s
worst in terms of math competence, while ranking last in science,
according to a 2004 report.
“Math and science are tied to California’s economic
future. Nothing we can do can be more important than preparing math
and science teachers for California students,” said CSU
Chancellor Charles Reed.
“We have to produce high-cost jobs, and high-cost jobs are
tied to math and science.”
Under the “California Teach” program, students who
apply and are accepted to UC teaching programs will be able to
receive a teaching credential and graduate with a bachelor’s
degree in four years, a process that takes most full-time students
about six years.
After a year of recruitment, the program will begin accepting
applications for the 2006-2007 school year. Proponents of the
proposal hope the program will encourage a surge in accredited
teachers graduating from California schools, from 250 teachers
annually to 1,000 by 2010.
The program, once in full swing, will cost the UC about $20
million a year, Dynes said.
Though the financial burden for CSUs has not yet been
determined, Reed expects it to cost $20,000 per teacher.
“I regard that as a bargain,” Reed said.
The governor has pledged $1 million to cover the program’s
first phase of planning.
Though an amount hasn’t been set on future phases, the
latest state budget proposal has allotted for an expansion of an
existing loan-forgiveness program, with 350 new awards for those
students on the way to becoming math or science teachers.
By increasing the number of accredited math and science
teachers, some believe California schools will become more
equitable as schools in communities known for their slumping
schools improve.
“We have a real problem in California with inequality in
educational opportunities, and by extending the pool of highly
qualified teachers this will help level the playing field,”
Dynes said.
The proposal comes with the support of 18 major corporations,
including $4 million of pledged funding over the next five
years.
“The issue is one of competitiveness. To remain the world
leader in technology with a vibrant and growing economy, we need to
substantially upgrade our science and math instruction,” said
Intel Chairman Craig Barrett in a press release.
Several corporations have also pledged to provide those students
who enroll in the “California Teach” program with
summer internships aimed at pushing class curriculum toward
real-world applications.
“We’re talking about taking these educators and
giving them very profitable jobs over the summer,” said Chuck
Smith, president and CEO of SBC West.