March 18 , 2005 Print this page

La Salle Hosts Convocation of University Officials Involved in Improving Math and Science Teaching in Area School Districts Pennsylvania Secretary of Education is Keynote Speaker

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Francis Barnes will deliver the keynote address Monday at 1 p.m. at a gathering for educators from 13 higher education institutions involved in a regional effort, headed by La Salle University, to improve math and science teaching.

La Salle will host more than a dozen presidents and chief academic officers from colleges and universities involved in the Mathematics and Science Partnership of Greater Philadelphia. The partnership is funded through a five-year, $12.5 million cooperative agreement awarded to La Salle by the National Science Foundation.

The MSPGP is dedicated to improving math and science curriculum and instruction and encouraging more students to consider careers in math and science education. After 15 months in operation, the MSPGP has involved 162 math and science college faculty and 166 college students majoring in math and science in various teacher and student enhancement programs and activities. This summer, the MSPGP will offer more than 70 workshops and institutes, including several college courses, for area teachers to improve math and science teaching.

On Monday, representatives from the MSPGP’s member institutions will hear updates on the partnership’s work and brainstorm ways to become further involved in advancing math and science education in the 46 school districts in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey that also belong to the MSPGP.

For more information about the partnership, visit www.mspgp.org.