STEM Partners Support District's Secondary Mathematics Initiatives

August 10, 2009

With generous support from leading area STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) focused corporations and foundations, the Plano Independent School District (Plano ISD) Education Foundation will complete funding this year for more than $280,000 in district-approved initiatives to improve student performance in secondary mathematics education.

STEM organizations partnering with the Plano ISD Education Foundation and the school district are AEGON Direct Marketing, Inc., EDS Foundation, ExxonMobil Corporation and Texas Instruments Incorporated.

To date, more than $280,000 has been raised to fund the four-year, incremental transition of Algebra 1 instruction from the ninth grade of high school to the eighth grade of middle school.

Plano ISD is the only school district in Texas known to move Algebra 1 instruction down one grade level for all students through an incremental, four-year systemic change effort, ensuring greater student understanding of pre-algebra and Algebra 1 concepts, while laying the groundwork for ongoing student success. This is a replicable state and national model of instructional excellence.

AEGON Direct Marketing, Inc. and Texas Instruments each recently renewed a $25,000 grant for the project, totaling their commitment for the systemic improvement effort to $75,000 each. The Plano ISD Education Foundation has committed to securing a total of $300,000 for the math initiatives.

“The Foundation greatly appreciates the support of these STEM corporations and foundations whose contributions are enabling Plano ISD to offer these mathematics initiatives for secondary students,” said Beth Webb, president of the Board of Directors of the Plano ISD Foundation. “It is wonderful that these leading businesses in our community are playing such a vital role in helping Plano ISD students increase their comprehension of mathematics principles.”

Other parts of the initiatives funded by STEM dollars have included the hiring of a middle school math specialist, the production of customized online tools for pre-algebra and Algebra 1 teachers and videotaping of master teacher demonstrations of best practices.

The Plano ISD Education Foundation is currently building its next public/private partnership for a science improvement initiative with the Plano ISD and will begin fundraising in the fall for a program start date of 2009-2010.

The Plano ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with the mission to generate private support for priority projects identified by Plano ISD not funded by tax dollars. The Foundation provides grants to educators, programs that support academic enrichment to Plano ISD students, emergency assistance for teachers and staff members in crisis, as well as programs aimed at recruiting and retaining quality teachers. To learn more about the Plano ISD Education Foundation or to make a donation, contact Executive Director Monica Shortino at 469-752-8091.