.png "TEA News Release 2")
Aug. 8, 2008
Grants to be awarded for additional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academies
AUSTIN – Three million dollars in startup grant funding is now available to establish up to six new T-STEM (Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) academies throughout the state, the Texas Education Agency announced today.
T-STEM academies are designed to promote student achievement in math and science so they are prepared for high skill careers in the 21st century economy. The grant is available for campuses serving students in grades 6-12.
Currently in Texas there are 38 T-STEM academies serving about 8,000 public school students. This new startup funding will support the design and implementation of three to six new academies by August 2009 that will eventually serve an additional 2,500 students.
"T-STEM academies not only prepare students for a successful future, they also serve as incubators for best practices in teaching sciences and mathematics," said Robert Scott, commissioner of education. "And these best practices can benefit all Texas students."
To explain the T-STEM academy concept, TEA and the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) will host technical assistance presentations in six locations throughout Texas. Attendees will learn how the model works and why it is so promising.
Anyone interested in learning more about T-STEM may attend. To RSVP, send an email to StateInitiatives@tea.state.tx.us.
Presentations will be held in the following locations:
• Edinburg: Sept. 3, 9 a.m.-noon – Education Service Center (ESC) Region 1, 1900 West Schunior St., Edinburg, TX
• Houston: Sept. 4, 9 a.m.-noon – ESC Region 4 7145 West Tidwell, Houston, TX
• Austin: Sept. 10, 9 a.m.-noon – 2013 T-STEM Center, 5701 Springdale Rd., Austin, TX
• Tyler: Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-noon – East Texas T-STEM Center, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX
• Dallas: Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-noon – Communities Foundation of Texas, Texas High School Project, 5500 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas, TX
• Lubbock: Sept. 18, 8 a.m.- noon – United Spirit Arena, City Bank Conference Center, Room D, 1701 Indiana Ave., Lubbock, TX
In addition, prospective applicants may receive general and clarifying information from TEA and CFT about the scope of this request for application though an applicant’s conference conducted via teleconference through the Texas Education Telecommunications Network (TETN). This video conference will be the single opportunity, in a group setting, to ask clarifying questions of TEA personnel. The conference will be open to all potential applicants, and all questions asked and answered will be in the presence of all attending.
To locate the nearest TETN facility, the following webpage has links and contact information for each ESC in Texas: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ESC/.
• T-STEM Cycle 4 Applicant’s Conference on Sept. 22, 10 a.m. – noon, Telecommunications Network (TETN) Event #31731
A Texas school district or open-enrollment charter in Texas is eligible to apply for a grant if it serves a student population of greater than 40 percent economically disadvantaged students and has received a rating of Exemplary, Recognized, or Academically Acceptable under the 2008 state accountability rating system. Special consideration or priority will be given to applicants that serve student populations of greater than 50 percent economically disadvantaged students. The T-STEM initiative is a development of the Texas High School Project, a $326 million public-private collaboration committed to increasing graduation rates and college enrollment rates statewide.
The project’s partners include TEA, the Office of the Governor, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Wallace Foundation, educators and others. Philanthropic investments are managed primarily by the Communities Foundation of Texas and TEA manages the public resources.
Contact:
Division of Communications
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: (512) 463-9000
E-mail: teainfo@tea.state.tx.us