Fort Worth ISD and National Math and Science Initiative Announced Comprehensive Advanced Placement Program
October 21, 2013
FORT WORTH ISD AND NATIONAL MATH AND SCIENCE INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED COMPREHENSIVE ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM
Fort Worth, Texas – The Fort Worth ISD and the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) announced today that NMSI’s Comprehensive Advanced Placement* (AP) program will expand to North Side and Trimble Tech High Schools, thanks to a grant totaling more than $1 million.
The Sid W. Richardson Foundation, The Radler Foundation, the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, the Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation and Chase Bank presented this generous donation during a morning kick-off celebration at North Side High School.
“The Fort Worth Independent School District, in partnership with NMSI and generous sponsors, are committed to building strong future leaders for the Fort Worth community by adopting the NMSI AP program. The program will give the students at North Side and Trimble Tech the skills needed to be successful in STEM, college, and in life," said NMSI Chairman of the Board Tom Luce.
These sponsors support programs that increase the number and diversity of secondary school graduates who are math-and-science proficient and who choose STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.
“We are grateful to these organizations and the National Math and Science Initiative for helping us help children be better prepared for college and careers,” said FWISD Superintendent Walter Dansby. “Our anticipation is that this program will be hugely successful in encouraging more students to take college-level courses and equipping them to succeed.”
There are more than 20 AP course offerings in the Fort Worth ISD including English, mathematics, science, social science and world languages. As the Advanced Placement program continues to expand, the programs of choice coordinators work with their high schools’ Advanced Placement teachers to ensure that each course fits the framework of a college course. By writing a professional syllabus according to College Board guidelines, students are assured they will receive instruction equal to a college survey course while still in a supportive high school environment.
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 teachers and teachers of grades 6-12 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.