Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Kicks-off Teach for America Week 2007
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt is encouraging Missouri students to consider teaching as their profession to help kick-off Teach for America Week.
“I am committed to ensuring that all Missouri’s children receive the world class education they deserve,” said Blunt, who read to third grade students yesterday at California Elementary School. “To accomplish that I am encouraging more caring Missourians to consider the teaching profession to help shape tomorrow’s leaders. Teach for America is a great program and I applaud them for making an important investment in our children.”
Teach for America is the national organization of recent college graduates who commit two years to educating youth in urban and rural public schools. For more information visit their Internet site at www.teachforamerica.org.
Gov. Blunt has continued to make education his highest priority. The governor’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 08 sends an additional $214 million to Missouri’s elementary and secondary classrooms, bringing the total increases to education over the last three years to more than half a billion dollars.
The governor’s education funding proposals also provide for critical investments in math, engineering, technology and science (METS). Blunt’s budget includes funding for 100 new technology classrooms in 100 schools, incentives for students to take Advanced Placement courses in math and science, and funding for after school programs focused on math and science to give Missouri children a safe place to learn and grow.
Blunt’s Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative is a once in a generation opportunity to expand scholarship and learning opportunities. The initiative will provide $335 million to higher education, helping Missouri’s colleges and universities build classrooms and modern teaching laboratories. The initiative also provides an additional $25 million for scholarships, which when combined with other recommended increases will more than double current funding for needs based scholarships from $27.5 million to $72.5 million.
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