The Honorable Sherwood Boehlert
Chairman
House Science Committee
2320 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
On behalf of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) I am writing to thank you for your leadership in shepherding H.R. 1858, the National Mathematics and Science Partnership Act, through the House of Representatives. AASCU represents 426 public, four-year colleges and universities and state systems of higher education enrolling more than 3.5 million students. AASCU member institutions educate a majority of the nation's undergraduate students who are preparing for a career in teaching.
The provisions in H.R. 1858 will go a long way towards improving K-12 mathematics and science education. Institutions of higher education are particularly well suited to serve as partnership leaders. Their faculty with years of expertise in teaching mathematics, science, and best practices of educational delivery; their long records of success in working closely with their community's public schools; and their years of experience in successfully administering federal grants and in providing strict financial oversight, all contribute to their ability to achieve the goals of this legislation. AASCU agrees with the Committee Report on H.R. 1858, that partnerships are unlikely to succeed unless the top administrators of the participating institutions are committed to the program. We are glad that the Report clarifies that state systems of higher education can apply as consortia, and that it encourages departments and colleges of education to play an active role in the partnership.
With every advance in technology, the disciplines of science and mathematics become more fundamental to our society, and to our economic prosperity. In order for the United States to remain a world leader, socially and economically, it is paramount that we remain a world leader in these fundamental disciplines. Our nation can no longer rely on the economic and technological momentum we enjoyed from the close of World War II through the end of the 20th century. We have not only seen other nations match our technological prowess, we have begun to see other nations surpass us in both knowledge and production capability in a variety of industries.
H.R. 1858 will give our nation’s young students an excellent start in mathematics and science. It will also help maintain the world-class status of our nation’s institutions of higher education by providing an influx of well-prepared and knowledgeable young men and women.
Again, thank you for your leadership
.
With warm regards,
Constantine W. Curris
President
|
