Friday, April 21, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Focuses on Math and Science during Student Achievement Tour
JEFFERSON CITY–In a two day tour, Gov. Matt Blunt is identifying ways to improve student achievement in math and science while highlighting the importance and value of preparing students for tomorrow’s global economy.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs and leaders. We must work now to ensure they have the fundamental skills required to move into the high-quality, high-paying, family supporting jobs we are working diligently to attract to our state,” Blunt said. “Math and science learning are the building blocks for the next economic revolution. Visiting schools across the state, I am seeing first hand innovative ideas that are working to improve student achievement and help prepare students for careers in math, health sciences, biotechnology, plant sciences, engineering and technology.”
Today, Blunt is visiting a Webb City school. Yesterday, Blunt visited schools in Sedalia, Warrensburg, and Lee’s Summit.
Ideas and information gathered at the school stops will be incorporated into the governor’s Math and Science Summit scheduled next week. The governor convened the Math and Science summit to bring educators, businesses and private organizations together to discuss ways to improve student knowledge in the areas of math, engineering technology and science to better prepare them for the global economy.
A 35-member planning committee comprised of members of the business, education and government sectors helped plan the summit and have provided guidance on ways to increase public awareness about the need to engage and maintain students’ interest in math and science learning.
Education continues to be Blunt’s first budget and policy priority. He helped secure a $158 million increase for public schools this fiscal year and led a successful effort to craft a needs-based school funding formula. Blunt proposed an additional $167 million increase for schools next fiscal year and a $17.1 million increase for colleges and universities. The governor’s Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative also paved the way to generate $450 million dollars to enhance learning opportunities for students across the state and provide the basis to ensure Missouri remains a leader in the plant science and biotechnology industries.
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