NMSI expands Comprehensive Advanced Placement Program to Memorial
October 23, 2013
What: NMSI expands Comprehensive Advanced Placement Program to Memorial
When: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013
Where: Memorial High School, 5840 S. Hudson Ave.
Contact: Chris Payne at 918-746-6898 or paynech@tulsaschools.org
TULSA, Okla. – The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) announced today that its Comprehensive Advanced Placement* (AP) program will expand to Memorial High School, thanks to a grant from the Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF), the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) and the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).
“Due to the generous funding from the Tulsa Community Foundation, the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Oklahoma State Department of Education, NMSI’s comprehensive AP program has started at Tulsa Memorial High School. Today we celebrate these teachers and students for their enduring commitment to building a strong STEM pipeline and enriching their community,” said NMSI Chief Academic Officer Gregg Fleishersix.
Memorial’s addition to the program was made possible by a $508,266 grant presented at a special event held today in the school’s library. The generous three-year grant from the TCF and the OSDE marks the first-ever partnership between private and government sectors to support a NMSI school in Oklahoma.
The OSDE and TCF support programs that increase the number and diversity of secondary school graduates who are math-and-science proficient and who choose careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Memorial will be the first school in Tulsa to implement NMSI’s Comprehensive AP program. Tulsa Public Schools will be the fifth Oklahoma school district with a school in the program, bringing the total to nine schools statewide.
“We are so excited that we have the opportunity to partner with NMSI and to join their AP program,” said Darin Schmidt, Memorial principal. “This will have a significant impact on our academic achievement and strengthen our goal of preparing our students for college and career success. This partnership will also increase our student participation and success with our AP courses in the areas of math, science and English to a level of very high expectations at Memorial High School.”
“This grant opens up tremendous educational opportunities at Memorial High School,” said Dr. Keith Ballard, superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools. “AP level courses and programs are vital to ensuring students are college and career ready when they graduate high school and the science and math programs will go a long way in bolstering Memorial's already wonderful STEM program. We are very thankful to NMSI as well as the Tulsa Community Foundation and the OSDE for their support of Tulsa schools.”
The Comprehensive AP program is open to all students in participating high schools who are eligible for AP classes. Program components include study sessions outside of normal school hours as well as intense training for the AP and 6th-12th grade teachers who will build the pipeline of students who are AP-ready. Access to the college-level AP courses not only gives students the opportunity to earn college credit, but also increases their chances of succeeding in college. Students who pass an AP exam are three times more likely to complete their college education. For minority students, that multiplier is even greater: African-American and Hispanic students who succeed in AP courses are four times more likely to graduate from college.
About National Math and Science Initiative (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 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, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. For more information, visit www.nms.org.
*Advanced Placement and AP are registered trademarks of the College Board.