North East ISD was one of four districts and the only one in San Antonio to receive a $750,000 grant to create Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (T-STEM) academies, Commissioner of Education Shirley Neeley announced last week. The T-STEM grant will be used to create a STEM academy at Nimitz Middle School and Lee High School.

The district plans to use the grant to create an academy for sixth- through 12th-graders in North East that will prepare students to become scientists, designers, mathematicians, engineers, programmers and international scholars. Each grade level will have no more than 100 students, totaling 700 for the entire academy. As students progress through the program, they will create digital portfolios of their work, participate in internships, become proficient in a foreign language and complete research projects.

North East will use the upcoming school year for planning and will open the STEM academy in the fall of 2007 to sixth- and ninth-graders. The academy will be phased-in over time, adding two grade levels each year until the program is filled in 2010-2011. Seventy percent of the students will be selected by lottery from the Nimitz and Lee attendance areas, and the other 30 percent will be chosen from the rest of the district, providing ethnic and socio-economic diversity for the academy.

"North East is honored that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) recognized the potential for this wonderful educational opportunity in our district," said Dr. Alicia H. Thomas, associate superintendent of Instruction. "With the growing emphasis on math and science, an academy like this will provide avenues and support for students to grow and develop into future scientists, engineers, and math and science teachers."

In addition to the grant, local universities, the Region 20 Service Center, community organizations and businesses will partner with the district to implement the new endeavor. T-STEM is a $71 million initiative designed to improve instruction and academic performance in science and math related subjects in Texas secondary schools. T-STEM was developed by the Texas High School Project (THSP), a $261 million public-private initiative committed to increasing graduation rates and college enrollment rates in every Texas community.

The THSP's partners include the Texas Education Agency, Office of the Governor, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Wallace Foundation, educators, and others. The philanthropic investments are managed primarily by Communities Foundation of Texas and the public resources by the Texas Education Agency.

"The T-STEM initiative focuses our efforts where they are needed most – in areas where there are a high number of disadvantaged students who are too often left in the shadows of opportunity," Gov. Rick Perry said. "This initiative will help us close the science and math gap that exists in our schools today before it becomes a salary gap for tomorrow's workers, and an opportunity gap for Texas families."

Other start-up grants for T-STEM academies were awarded to Richardson ISD, Dallas ISD and Corpus Christi ISD. Ultimately, 35 T-STEM academies will be created around the state. For more information about the T-STEM grant, visit TEA's Web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/press/tstemgrants71306.pdf.