Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt, METS Alliance Build Foundation for Student Success
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today met with the METS Alliance, a group he tasked with creating an action plan to better prepare Missouri students for a global economy, to discuss opportunities for our state to become a leader in math, engineering, technology and science (METS) education.
“Missouri students are the keepers of all Missouri’s potential and promise. We must work together to build the foundation for their success and provide them with the tools they need to compete in tomorrow’s global economy,” Blunt said. “I applaud the METS Alliance for identifying ways we can unlock our students’ potential and partner to improve student achievement and ensure Missouri students remain competitive in emerging, METS based industry and opportunity.”
Blunt tapped 20 representatives from state government, local government, public education systems, and Missouri businesses to form the METS Alliance following his METS Summit this spring. The group submitted their action plan and recommendations to the governor August 31st and then met today to discuss and review their proposal.
The action plan identifies strategies to address the five major goals:
- Improve the performance of all students, preschool through graduate (P-20) school
- Expand the pool of students motivated to pursue METS careers
- Expand the pool of Missouri’s P-20 METS educators
- Establish a technology plan to support METS curricula, Missouri Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) and assessments in Missouri
- Increase public awareness of the value of METS knowledge on the lives of all Missourians and highlight the importance of METS-related industries and jobs in enhancing Missouri’s global competitiveness and innovation.
Some of the groups recommended action items include:
- Forming a permanent not for profit coalition to focus on METS education, encourage partnerships to enhance METS learning, and monitor METS initiatives
- Improving METS curricula and assessments to support focused, inquiry-based instruction modeled on internationally recognized best practices.
- Increasing rigor in collegiate-level courses
- Improving career education and counseling
- Exposing students to “real-world” METS applications
- Celebrating and rewarding students who reach high levels of achievement in METS studies and activities
- Improving quality and supply of P-20 METS educators
- Providing incentives to recruit and retain high-quality P-20 METS educators
- Developing a standard suite of technology and curriculum resources for METS
- Developing focused professional development
- Developing and maintaining a web based METS portal
- Creating and implementing a public awareness campaign.
The complete report will be available on the METS Internet site http://gov.mo.gov/mets/.
Many of the METS Alliance members will continue to work on this initiative and the creation of the METS Coalition to help move these strategies and recommendations forward and build the foundation for strong METS education in state. In addition Blunt will continue looking for strategic ways to promote METS learning, enhance student achievement and recognize the state’s full potential.
Education remains Blunt’s top priority. Since taking office, the governor has sent more than $325 million in funding increases to Missouri public schools. He has also pledged that he will never withhold money approved for Missouri classrooms. He also led the successful effort to craft a new needs-based school funding formula and secured funding increases for Missouri’s higher education institutions and scholarships.
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