City chosen to participate in math, science grant program
By Jennifer K. Gray Contributing Writer

Marlborough - Marlborough Public School District is one of only seven districts in the commonwealth to be chosen to participate in the National Math and Science Initiative's (NMSI) Advanced Placement (AP) training and incentive program. The commonwealth, in partnership with Boston nonprofit Mass. Insight Education and Research Institute, recently succeeded in securing one of the first-ever awarded program grants.

The grant will provide up to $13.2 million over the next six years to help fund training and incentive programs for Pre-AP and AP courses and exams. Marlborough joins Brockton, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield, Worcester and the Math and Technical Charter High School in this opportunity.

Barbara McGann, superintendent of Marlborough Schools, is excited about the new program.

"We are thrilled to be part of this national program," she said. "Of the seven chosen districts in Massachusetts, we are the smallest."

Launched in March 2007, NMSI is a nonprofit organization created to facilitate the growth of national programs that have an impact on math and science education in the United States. Exxon Mobil Corporation is supporting the initiative with a commitment of $125 million. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation have also joined as donors.

The NSMI was created in direct response to government reports indicating that American students are underperforming in math and science. McGann agrees.

"A large body of research shows that students who can earn a qualifying score on Advanced Placement examinations are much more likely to successfully complete college," she said. "However, less than 15 percent of high school students nationwide are able to do so."

Boston Mayor Tom Menino feels that in order to attend and succeed in college, students must have coursework and instruction that meets the highest standards. He believes that this program will help this eff ort.

"This AP program will allow us to deepen this eff ort and to go much further - providing access to rigorous coursework for our students, valuable professional development for our teachers, and furthering our partnership with the outstanding colleges and universities we have here in our city," Menino said.

Because there is a direct correlation between teacher initiative and student achievement, the grant will also help develop partnerships between higher education institutions and local school districts. The partnerships will enhance and further develop teaching skills so that local teachers have the necessary skills to teach math, science and English in 21stcentury schools.

McGann would also like to use part of the grant funds to help Marlborough students pay for and prepare for the AP exams.

"AP exams cost money and many socio-economically deprived youngsters never take the exams because they can't afford them," McGann said. "We intend to propose using part of our grant to pay for the exams for our students. We also want to prepare large numbers of students for AP through Saturday Scholars, Summer Scholar Institutes and making interdisciplinary connections."

McGann feels that the AP training and incentive program will help reach more students and will prepare them for the future.

"We would like every student in Marlborough to take AP exams and achieve excellence in math, science and English so that when they graduate, they are ready to succeed in college," she said.