The Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program brings together efforts of the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education to improve teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in grades preK-12.

The purpose of this program is to:

• Improve the performance of students in math and the sciences by encouraging the development of more rigorous math and science curricula that are aligned with State and local academic standards;

• Encourage institutions of higher education to assume greater responsibility for improving math and science teacher education; and

• Bring math and science teachers together with scientists, mathematicians, and engineers to improve their teaching skills.

Last year, President Bush signed legislation that provided a total of $172.5 million ($160 million through the National Science Foundation and $12.5 million through the Department of Education) for this program in FY-02. This year, President Bush’s budget proposes increasing this commitment in FY-03 to $212.5 million ($200 million through the National Science Foundation and $12.5 million through the Department of Education).

• Grants made through the National Science Foundation will provide funding for up to five years to support partnerships among institutions of higher education, school districts, schools, and other entities, such as museums, science centers, State or tribal governmental agencies, and community organizations.

• These partnerships must unite the efforts of schools with math, science, and/or engineering faculty, as well as educational faculty from institutions of higher education, to improve the quality of math and science education and teaching in elementary, middle, and high school.

• Grants made through the Department of Education can be used, among other purposes, to evaluate the effectiveness of establishing differential salary scales for math and science teachers.

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