ACT Reports - Ohio's High School Graduates Underprepared
for College and Ohio's Emerging Workforce
August 13, 2008
Ohio's college-intending students are underprepared in mathematics and science according to a recent report from ACT. Just 47% of Ohio students taking the 2008 ACT exam met the benchmark score for mathematics, and only 33% met the benchmark score for science. Only 26% of test-takers surpassed the benchmarks in all areas measured.

Click here to access the state reports and recommendations from ACT.

Ohio Teacher Corps Awards Provide Financial Incentives
for New Teachers of Mathematics and Science
August 11, 2008
Ohio Teacher Corps is a new loan forgiveness and financial incentive program offered through the Ohio Board of Regents. It is designed to help our state meet the challenge of providing quality science and mathematics instructors in "difficult to staff" schools.

Click here to access the Ohio Board of Regents announcements and application materials. Financial support will begin with the 2008-2009 academic year.

Choose Ohio First Scholarships Designed to
Jump-start STEM Growth
August 6, 2008
Choose Ohio First is a new scholarship program offered through the University System of Ohio. It is designed to help our state meet the national challenge of increasing degree attainment and workforce development in science, mathematics, engineering, technology and medical fields.

Click here to access the University System of Ohio announcements. Scholarships will begin with the 2008-2009 academic year. Contact the financial aid office at the respective universities listed, or visit their Web sites, for more detail and application information.

Growth in STEM Education Falling Short of Goals
July 28, 2008
The Tapping America's Potential coalition has issued a report citing mixed success in meeting the challenge to increase STEM degree attainment in the United States.

Click here to access the TAP Website.

Ohio 2025: OMSC Thought Leadership Paper
The OMSC Executive Board has released its strategic planning document. This scenarios-based planning tool describes four possible futures for Ohio, based upon the relationship between increased educational attainment and the development of a globally competitive workforce. This document will guide the public information efforts of OMSC over the next 3 years.Electronic copies can be downloaded by using the links below.

To request printed copies from OMSC click here or send an email message to jamie.milne@ideastream.org .

Rethinking Mathematics Curriculum from Pre-Algebra through Calculus

Updated June 2, 2008
The American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) is suggesting to high schools and colleges that we rethink some long-held beliefs about the role of the college preparatory mathematics curriculum. OMSC Emeritus Member Rikki Blair has authored this thought-provoking reflection.

AMATYC Reflections, March 2008 Full PDF Document
Download (78K) the article from our Web server.

Here is a related article from Education Week that asks similar questions.
Updated June 3, 2008
Click here to access the Education Week article, What Kind of Math Matters?

OMSC Partners with National Center for Technological Literacy to Promote
Broader Understanding of STEM Education

Updated June 5, 2008
Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition held its spring 2008 meeting on May 9 in Columbus. Our guest speaker was
Dr. Yvonne Spicer, Associate Director of the National Center for Technological Literacy at the Boston Museum of Science.

OMSC Partners with NE Ohio to Promote Improved STEM Education and Economic Development

Updated April 3, 2008
Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition has partnered with the City of Cleveland Workforce Development Office, WVIZ/WCPN/Ideastream, MAGNET, the SMART Consortium, the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College, Lorain County Community College and numerous other regional education, business, and community organizations to co-sponsor the NE Ohio STEM Conference. The conference was held at The Idea Center in Playhouse Square on February 27 and 28, 2008. Guest speakers included Dr. Julian Earls, retired director of the NASA Glenn Research Center, Dr. William Schmidt, Director of the U.S. TIMSS Center, and Mr. Kenneth Kay, President of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, all of whom challenged us to rethink business and education partnerships to produce a strong STEM teacher corps and globally competitive workers for Cleveland and its surrounding communities. This conference marked the inception of the region's coordinated efforts to build strong ties between the education and business communities for the purpose of developing NE Ohio's medical, manufacturing, engineering and knowledge innovation economy. WVIZ-TV/ideastream interviewed speakers and participants, and is now in the process of producing an education series about the STEM education and workforce connections.

Study Results: Math and Science Education Contributes to
U.S. Economic Growth

March 13, 2008
The Wall Street Journal reports clear links between students' mathematics and science achievement and growth in gross domestic product.

Click here to read the online article.

University System of Ohio Announces Initial
"Choose Ohio First" Scholarship Opportunities

March 13, 2008
The University System of Ohio will promote student involvement in STEM career preparation through scholarship support. Read more in the Ohio Board of Regents Press Release.

Click here to access the downloadable PDF file.

National Mathematics Advisory Panel Releases Final Report

March 13, 2008
The US Department of Education has released the final report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel. The 90-page report cites research-based recommendations regarding teacher quality, curricular coherence, instructional and assessment practices.

Click here to access downloadable PDF files.

MIT Announces Open Courseware to Promote STEM Education

February 7, 2008
MIT has made numerous content and courses available to the education public as part of its Open Courseware Project. Click the link below to access the Press Release.

Click here to read the Press Release from Education Week Magazine.

Click here to visit the MIT Open Courseware Site.

OMSC Announces Initiative to Recognize and Expand Successful STEM Education Practices in Ohio

June 22,2007
The Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition announces its participation as a state partner in the NASSMC STEM Accelerator Initiative. Click the link below to access the Press Release.

Download (18 KB) the SAI Press Release from our Web server.

Ohio STEM Network Growing

July 23,2007
In addition to the ongoing advocacy work of OMSC, several organizations in Ohio are working to bring a focus to STEM education. Governor Strickland's office received a grant from the National Governors Association to build a network of regional STEM centers that will work to develop economic growth through STEM education and STEM-based businesses. OMSC supports the development of these collaborative partnerships and looks forward to assisting these groups in communicating to Ohio's public the impact of these efforts. Click the links below to access information about their work.

See the design for Ohio's STEM High Schools.

Announcement of NGA Award to Ohio.

The Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning is working to build a state network
to support improvements to Ohio's education system through P-16 Councils.
Click here for more information.

Ohio Education System Receives Below Average Grades on Integrating Technology
into Teaching and Learning
March 29, 2007
The Technology Counts 2007 report from Education Week identifies a number of ways that Ohio is falling short in the national efforts to incorporate technology into teaching, learning, and school operations. Will Ohio's students be poorly prepared to address STEM competitiveness?

Read the Full Report here: http://www.edweek.org.

Science and Mathematics Education Policy Advisory Council Releases Final Report;
OMSC Recommended to Coordinate Statewide STEM Information and Advocacy Campaign
February 19, 2007
The Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition has been recommended by the Science and Mathematics Education Policy Advisory Council to coordinate Ohio's public information and advocacy efforts regarding STEM education, workforce needs, and the economy.

Read the Full Report here: http://regents.ohio.gov.

Read the Executive Summary here: http://regents.ohio.gov.

NSF MSP Programs Show Promising Results in Mathematics and Science
Mathematics and Science Partnerships are increasing student achievement in both disciplines according to the latest report issued by the National Science Foundation. Read the report summary here: www.nsf.gov/news/.

Ohio Math and Science Coalition News Archives
See news items posted prior to February 2007
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