| The T-STEM initiative was launched in December | | | | academies, located in high need areas across the |
| 2005 by the Governor Perry's office in | | | | state of Texas. These Texas schools will focus |
| partnership with the Texas schools, the Bill & | | | | on science, mathematics, engineering and |
| Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell | | | | technology instruction. From five to six STEM |
| Foundation, National Instruments, and the | | | | demonstration centers will be developed to |
| Communities Foundation of Texas. | | | | transform current teaching methods for the |
| The Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and | | | | Texas schools educators, as well as train and |
| Math (T-STEM) initiative is a $71 million dollar | | | | prepare teachers for these specialized Texas |
| project to better prepare Texas schools students | | | | schools. Additionally, the project will establish a |
| for success in college and the workplace. With the | | | | statewide network to promote a broad |
| undeniable forward movement towards a global | | | | dissemination of practices throughout the Texas |
| technology-based economy, secondary Texas | | | | schools. |
| schools are placing more emphasis on science and | | | | Each new T-STEM Texas schools will include |
| mathematics. | | | | grades 6-12 or will be a high school academy that |
| Though many Texas schools already are doing an | | | | works with feeder middle schools. Each grade will |
| excellent job in these educational areas, the most | | | | have about 100 Texas schools students. The |
| common reason many Texas schools are graded | | | | focus will be to create personalized, engaging and |
| academically unacceptable by the state is poor | | | | relevant learning environments. |
| science performance. The second most common | | | | The enrolled Texas schools students will be |
| reason is poor mathematics performance. | | | | required to take four years of mathematics and |
| In 2005, only 72 percent of the students passed | | | | science with participation in related extra-curricular |
| the mathematics portion and only 71 percent | | | | activities. An internship or project in areas related |
| passed the science portion of the state's required | | | | to science, technology, engineering or |
| exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and | | | | mathematics also will be required. |
| Skills (TAKS) exam. The passing rate among the | | | | Educators in these Texas schools will be required |
| Texas schools major ethnic groups was | | | | to work with institutions of higher education to |
| significantly lower. Only 54 percent of | | | | foster partnerships, dual credit classes, and |
| African-American students passed the math | | | | teacher training opportunities. |
| portion and only 55 percent passed the science | | | | Funding for the Texas schools T-STEM initiative is |
| portion. Hispanics did slightly better with 61 | | | | $30 million from the state of Texas, $20 million |
| percent passing the math and 57 percent the | | | | each from the Gates and Dell Foundations, $1 |
| science. | | | | million from National Instruments, and $10 million |
| The hopes are that the new T-STEM project will | | | | from the Communities Foundation of Texas, |
| improve current Texas schools student | | | | which include leading businesses, foundations and |
| performance in both areas by providing innovative | | | | individuals who underscore the significance of |
| science and mathematics instruction, as well as | | | | these academic areas to the future of our global |
| innovative demonstration sites. | | | | economy. |
| T-STEM will establish 35 small schools or | | | | |