Dallas ISD Receives A $1.45 Million Federal Grant From NASA

11 Mar 2010

Grant Will be Used to Implement a Math, Science, and Technology Initiative

DALLAS–The Dallas Independent School District has received a $1.45 million federal grant from NASA, secured by the Foundation for Community Empowerment, to implement a Math, Science, and Technology Initiative in the district and in a number of pre-school programs in Dallas.

The Math, Science, and Technology Initiative will provide increased educational opportunities in STEM disciplines both for teachers and students. The initiative is focused on scaling up proven STEM academic programs that lead to high academic achievement and college and career readiness. The program has two major goals:

• Support the implementation of successful mathematics and science teaching and curriculum development in the Dallas ISD and in selected Dallas pre-school programs.
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• Strengthen the technology infrastructure of the Dallas ISD to improve student-to-computer and teacher-to-computer ratios.

"This is a significant boost to our efforts to improve math, science and technology instruction throughout Dallas ISD," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa. "More than that, this grant will hopefully develop the next generation of NASA engineers. We are very thankful to both NASA and the Foundation for Community Empowerment for ensuring this grant for Dallas ISD students and teachers."

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson also played an instrumental role in reserving the NASA grant for Dallas ISD.

"I am pleased the Dallas Independent School District has received this large grant," said Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. "The money will be put to an extremely important use: engaging young people throughout Dallas in science, technology, engineering and math. An educated STEM workforce is the key to strengthening the American economy and maintaining our nation's position as a global leader."

This project will have four components:

• MathForward. Texas Instruments' MathForward program responds to a pressing need for middle school algebra readiness and high school algebra success while increasing teacher capacity for further gains. The program utilizes a combination of professional development, curriculum enhancement, and technology to engage students and teachers.
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• Science and Technology Initiative. Science teachers, teacher technologists, or librarians in participating schools will receive specialized training focusing on the utilization of equipment and software or Web site links related to the science resource center.
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• Computer equipment for students and teachers. This project will purchase approximately 600 new computers for students and teachers and place them in libraries, science labs, science classrooms or Dallas pre-school classrooms, where they are needed most for the teaching of STEM subjects.
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• Dallas ISD Web Site. This will be a web-based science repository to promote improved science teaching and student achievement in science.

The Math, Science and Technology Initiative will address NASA's education goals directly in four ways. First, the initiative will involve more Dallas ISD students in mathematics, science, and technology than ever before and in ways that will be more engaging. Second, the initiative will provide increased educational opportunities in STEM disciplines both for teachers and students. Third, the partnership between the Foundation for Community Empowerment, the Dallas ISD, Dallas pre-school programs, and NASA will promote STEM literacy and a greater awareness of NASA's mission and accomplishments. Finally, this initiative will promote diversity in NASA's education programs.

The program will assist teachers with student-appropriate hands-on activities and other science curriculum resources that build students' confidence in learning science. Also, it will immerse students in rigorous content that is challenging and that will provide opportunities for continuous exploration of STEM and its applications from one grade to the next. Finally, it will utilize a feeder pattern alignment (Pre-Kinder through 12th grade) to build upon the level of the students' understanding and create opportunities for students to expand on their knowledge as they mature.

During the month of May, 100 Dallas ISD students will participate in a trip to NASA, funded with the grant.