The Honorable Richard Shelby
Chairman
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice and Science
110 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Shelby:
On behalf of the 155,000 mathematics and science educators that make up the
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the National Science
Teachers Association (NSTA), we are writing to express disappointment with the
sharp decrease in FY2006 funding for programs under the Education and Human
Resources Directorate at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Strengthening science and math education is a core mission of the NSF. The NSF invests in the people, ideas, and tools necessary to develop an educational infrastructure that fosters breakthrough innovations, inventions, and improvements in mathematics and science education at all levels. These innovations ensure that students have greater access to good teaching, better-designed materials and assessments, and quality out-of-school learning experiences.
We do appreciate the $4 million increase to the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program for FY06. Despite this increase, it still represents a 20 percent cut in funding compared to FY2005 and a 54 percent cut from FY2004 funding.
The MSP programs combine research with innovative practices developed by some of the best minds in the fields of mathematics and science education to develop critical model reform initiatives that will improve teacher quality, develop challenging curricula, and increase student achievement. When such a high premium is placed on improving STEM education our nation cannot afford these cuts to the MSP program.
We are also concerned with the level of funding for the Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education (ESIE) division. Funding of $140.8 million represents a 23 percent cut from last year. These cuts will adversely affect critical K–12 mathematics and science systemic reform initiatives; programs in curriculum development, pre-service and in-service teacher education; programs to bring more informal science into our classrooms; and uses of technology to enhance K–12 instruction and create systemic reform.
Research, education, the technical workforce, scientific discovery, innovation, and economic growth are intertwined. To remain competitive on the global stage, we must ensure that each remains vigorous and healthy. That requires sustained investments and informed policies. If NSF ceases to fulfill its educational mission of stimulating innovation and building capacity, then there will be a critical shortage of both high-quality education research and highly skilled workers. A reduction in NSF mathematics and science education funding would lead to irreversible losses in the nation’s improvement infrastructure, with no way to recover what is lost.
For these reasons we hope that you can do everything possible for mathematics and science education as FY2006 Science, State, Commerce and Justice appropriations bill enters conference negotiations. We urge conferees to adopt the House mark for the NSF Elementary and Secondary Education Programs ($175m) and the Senate mark for the Math and Science Partnership Program ($64m).
We look forward to working with you in the future to improve our nation’s educational system and to help secure the future of American prosperity. If you have any questions or if there is anything either of our organizations can do to assist you, please contact Jodi Peterson at NSTA at 703-312-9214 or Ken Krehbiel at NCTM 703-620-9840, ext.2102.
Sincerely,
Gerald Wheeler
Executive Director
National Science Teachers Association
James Rubillo
Executive Director
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics