THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060667
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
A $2.5 million grant to boost minority performance in math and science courses was awarded Wednesday to the Newport News school district, one of five public school systems in the nation to receive the National Science Foundation funds.
The Partnership for Minority Student Achievement grant will be used to overhaul the school district's science and math curricula in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
While the ultimate aim is to increase the presence of African-American and other minority students in math and science fields, all students should benefit from accelerated standards, enriched education programs and upgraded teacher skills, said Thomasena Woods, Newport News' science supervisor.
The five-year grant will be used to fund a program called STEP: Student and Teacher Excellence Program, which is a collaborative venture of the school system, Hampton University, NASA Langley Research Center, the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility, Cooperating Hampton Roads Organizations for Minorities in Engineering, and the Virginia Living Museum. by CNB