A Note from New England Region VP Mike Bartini
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 Mike Bartini |
We’ve just learned the results from the first two
years of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), and the news is outstanding across the board, with a 51 percent overall increase in passing scores on AP Exams in math, science and English. NERO is proud that two of the six programs receiving the NMSI grants were Project Opening Doors in Connecticut and Mass Insight’s Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative. The Massachusetts program has already received grants from 27 partners — including several foundations, businesses and the Massachusetts Department of Education — which will allow these efforts to continue and expand. In Connecticut, AP math and science enrollment for African Americans and Hispanics increased 167 percent in the nine NMSI program schools.
There are two important pieces of legislation currently pending in the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and this legislation is supported by the College Board, the Massachusetts School Counselors Association and the New England Association for College Admission Counseling. The first is House Bill 470, which would create a two-year pilot project for 10 school districts to accelerate college and career readiness, utilizing the new college and career Web portal at the school-district level through a redistribution of school counselor time, allowing them to fully integrate college and career planning throughout the district and community. The second, House Bill 471, would require all public school districts to prepare students for college or a career with a six-year plan spanning from grade eight through the first year after high school graduation. If you live in Massachusetts, contact your state representative and urge the passage of these two important bills.
It’s time to start planning to attend the 2010 New England Regional Forum, Feb. 8–9 in Boston. This two-day event will offer more than 50 sessions from members and education professionals. Visit www.collegeboard.com/neforum to learn more and to plan a professional development experience that will enhance your work experience.
Coming up next month is the 7th Annual Institute for New AP Teachers, which will be held Oct. 15–16 in Norwood, Mass. This two-day professional development event will be led by experienced AP instructors, who will present effective methods of instruction, strategies for preparing students to take AP Exams, tips for accessing AP Central® and other resources, and strategies for addressing issues of access and equity in the AP classroom. You can still register online for the event.
I hope to see many of you in New York Oct. 21–23 at Forum 2009. The programs are always very timely and informative, and the event provides a wonderful opportunity to interact with colleagues from across the country.
NMSI Boosts Student Achievement in Connecticut
and Massachusetts
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| Pictured at the A+ College Ready Alabama announcement are (from left) Paul Dieffenthaller, Mobile Bay Operations superintendent for ExxonMobil Production Company; Alabama Gov. Bob Riley; Alabama State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton; and John Winn, chief program officer of NMSI. |
Two years ago, grants of up to $13.2 million each were awarded to Project Opening Doors in Connecticut, Mass Insight Education’s Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative, and programs in four other states from the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) to provide training and incentive programs to teachers of AP® courses in their respective states over the next six years. Today, results from the first cohort of 67 program schools confirm dramatic increases in student achievement in rigorous math and science courses. For the 2008-09 school year, there was a 51 percent increase in AP Exams passed in math, science and English — more than nine times higher than the national average.
AP students in math, science and English took more than 13,000 exams in 2008-09, an increase of 80.1 percent over 2007-08. These results suggest that NMSI is helping to close the achievement gap in math and science. The program has demonstrated impressive increases in participation and performance for underrepresented students, especially African American and Hispanic students. The number of AP math, science and English exams taken by African American and Hispanic students in 2008-09 increased 134.3 percent, while the percentage of these exams passed increased 71.2 percent. Female students, who are traditionally underrepresented in math and science, increased their pass rate by 54.7 percent in math, science and English for 2008-09.
In the nine NMSI program schools in Connecticut, AP math and science enrollment for African Americans and Hispanics increased 167 percent, from 78 to 208. Massachusetts NMSI program has already received grants from 27 partners, including several foundations, businesses and the Massachusetts Department of Education, which ensure that the program will continue to help students while expanding to include more students in the years to come.
The scores were officially announced by NMSI in conjunction with the A+ College Ready Program,
which administers the AP Training and Incentive Program (APTIP)in Alabama, at a press conference
held at Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Ala. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Alabama Superintendent of Education Joe Morton participated in the announcement. Additional announcement events were held in Arkansas and Kentucky.
The increase in student participation in AP college-level course work in the NMSI program schools is changing the culture of expectations. These initial results indicate that enhanced teacher training, teacher incentives, student scholarships, more time on task for students and master teacher mentoring can dramatically increase the number of students succeeding in many areas of college-level work.
"These first-year results demonstrate that more rigorous and effective math and science programs can be replicated successfully nationwide. This program is going to open the doors to college for many more students," said Tom Luce, CEO of NMSI.
The results were achieved by replicating APTIP in six states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Virginia. This successful replication, when expanded across multiple states and school districts, is expected to deliver results in a rapid, cost-effective, efficient and self-sustaining manner. This kind of national effort is essential to improve the capacity of our public education system.
This fall, NMSI will be implementing the program in 142 public high schools, more than twice as
many as last year.
To see a more comprehensive summary of NMSI's first-year program results for the Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program, click here.
Upcoming New England Region
2009 Fall Counselor Workshops
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Each fall, thousands of educators come together at dozens of workshops across the country for the College Board’s Fall Counselor Workshops. This year, we have a new way for you to participate: |
LIVE – ON DEMAND –
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Check back often, live sessions are updated regularly. |
Attend a free workshop in your region.
Register online at www.collegeboard.com/meetings
| 9/23 | Johnson and Wales University, Providence, R.I. |
| 9/23 | Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill, Mass. |
| 9/23 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine, Standish, Maine |
| 9/23 | Saint Michael's College, Colchester, Vt. |
| 9/29 | Naugatuck Valley Community College Waterbury, Conn. |
| 9/29 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, Mass. |
| 9/30 | Bryant University, Smithfield, R.I. |
| 9/30 | College of St. Joseph, Rutland, Vt. |
| 10/1 | Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn. |
| 10/1 | University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H. |
| 10/2 | University of Connecticut-Avery Point, Groton, Conn. |
| 10/2 | College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Mass. |
| 10/6 | Plymouth State University, Plymouth, N.H. |
| 10/6 | Conference Center at Bentley, Waltham, Mass. |
| 10/7 | Endicott College, Beverly, Mass. |
| 10/7 | Stonehill College, Easton, Mass. |
| 10/9 | Cape Cod Community College West, Barnstable, Mass. |
| 10/9 | University of Connecticut-Greater Hartford, West Hartford, Conn. |
Events & Workshops
Click here to see events and workshops in the New England Region.
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During this pivotal time in our nation, the College Board invites you to join us for two special opportunities to connect with education professionals dedicated to impacting change and increasing college readiness.
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