EDS Foundation Awards $50,000 Grant to Plano ISD Education Foundation for Math Improvement

November 20, 2007

The EDS Foundation has approved a $50,000 grant to the Plano ISD Education Foundation for resources that will improve student performance in Algebra I instruction, the gateway course to advanced high school science, technology and mathematics.

The grant supports a comprehensive four-year middle school mathematics improvement initiative that provides extensive teacher training and the ongoing support of middle school mathematics teachers with a middle school mathematics specialist and online tools. As a result, by June 2011, all Plano ISD students will complete algebra instruction while still in middle school.

Robinson Middle School students (from left) Sean Browning, Sarah Hassan, Robin Pham, and Chris Hurley, show new mathematics materials in use by students in the Plano Independent School District to (standing from left) Jim Hirsch of Plano ISD, Liz Bonet of EDS, and Keith Braley of the Plano ISD Education Foundation. The EDS Foundation presented a $50,000 grant to the Plano ISD Education Foundation to enhance teacher training and student performance in mathematics.

“Retooling the instruction of Algebra I is the single-most important step our district can take to improve dramatically student performance in math and science,” said Dr. Doug Otto, Plano ISD superintendent of schools. “Through grants like the one provided by the EDS Foundation, Plano ISD will be able to expose students to algebra at earlier stages in their instruction in order to benefit from four more years of advanced high school science, technology, and mathematics course work.”

The EDS Foundation was created to support EDS philanthropic efforts in communities where employees volunteer and work around the world. Since its inception in 2000, the EDS Foundation has donated more than $4.5 million to 93 nonprofit organizations.

“Our board of directors was pleased to provide a grant to Plano ISD and seven other worthy organizations during its August meeting,” said Diane Spradlin, executive director of the EDS Foundation. “We are delighted to add Plano ISD to the long list of nonprofit organizations we support and to join with the district to provide a valuable service to students in the areas of math and science.”

The EDS Foundation supports nonprofit organizations involved in education, health and human services and arts and culture. The majority of foundation funds will be directed to these organizations in support of the productive use of technology in programs and processes. The remainder of the funding will be directed to general program support. All programs funded by the Foundation must have a current EDS employee volunteer partnership.

About Plano ISD

The Plano Independent School District is a public school district covering 100 square miles in southwest Collin County. The district serves the needs of approximately 53,000 students in a five-phase educational program that includes early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, and senior high school.   The curriculum is designed to begin preparing students in the early grades for college readiness. The Plano ISD Education Foundation generates support for instructional priorities which are identified by the district and for which tax dollars are not available.

About EDS

EDS (NYSE: EDS) is a leading global technology services company delivering business solutions to its clients. EDS founded the information technology outsourcing industry 45 years ago. Today, EDS delivers a broad portfolio of information technology and business process outsourcing services to clients in the manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, communications, energy, transportation, and consumer and retail industries and to governments around the world. Learn more at eds.com.