National Math and Science Initiative’s College Readiness Program
Impact
The National Math and Science Initiative’s (NMSI) College Readiness Program is raising the level of academic rigor in more than 560 schools across the country by dramatically increasing the number of students taking and passing college-level math, science, and English coursework. Within the first year of launching the program, participating schools experience an average 72% increase in passing scores on Advanced Placement (AP*) exams in these subjects—10 times the national average. NMSI’s College Readiness Program also expands access to rigorous coursework, and produces measurable improvements, among traditionally under-represented groups. A 2010 study, for example, found that African American and Hispanic students who were exposed to the program were 69% and 83% more likely, respectively, to graduate from a four-year college than students who were not part of the program.
Accomplished
- Need Accomplished
- Evaluation Developing
- Sustainability Accomplished
- Replication & Scalability Accomplished
- Partnerships Accomplished
- Capacity Accomplished
- Challenging & Relevant Content Accomplished
- STEM Practices Accomplished
- Inspiration Developing
- Under-Represented Groups Accomplished
The 67 schools in the new National Math and Science Initiative on AP are great examples of the power of quality instruction, more time spent on task, and rigorous, content-focused teacher training. The NMSI schools are having phenomenal success in raising AP scores among minority students.
U.S. Secretary of Education
Design Principles
The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy. Programs must be Accomplished (
) across all Design Principles, or be Developing (
) in a maximum of three areas.
Overarching Principles
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Need Accomplished
Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.
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Evaluation Developing
Use rigorous evaluation to continuously measure and inform progress towards the compelling need identified.
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Sustainability Accomplished
Ensure work is sustainable.
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Replication & Scalability Accomplished
Demonstrate replicability and scalability.
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Partnerships Accomplished
Create high impact partnerships.
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Capacity Accomplished
Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.
STEM Principles
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Challenging & Relevant Content Accomplished
Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience.
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STEM Practices Accomplished
Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.
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Inspiration Developing
Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.
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Under-Represented Groups Accomplished
Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.
Program Overview
NMSI is a nonprofit organization launched in 2007 by top leaders in business, education, and science to transform education in the United States. One of the ways NMSI is raising the academic bar in our nation’s schools is through the College Readiness Program—a comprehensive approach that lays the foundation for rigorous instruction as early as third grade. NMSI’s programs boost academic achievement through rigorous AP coursework in math, science, and English, with an emphasis on improving teacher effectiveness and increasing time on task for all students. NMSI’s College Readiness Program is transforming schools into centers of college and career readiness. How students perform on AP exams is the best indicator available of whether students are prepared for college-level work. Students who master AP courses (earning exam scores of three or higher on a five-point scale) are three times more likely to graduate from college than students who do not score well. For minority students, that multiplier is even greater: African American and Hispanic students who succeed in AP courses are four times more likely to graduate from college. Furthermore, a 2010 study found that NMSI students were 22% more likely to continue in college than students not enrolled in the College Readiness Program. The program’s key elements of success include teacher training and mentoring by experienced teachers, student support through extra tutoring and study sessions, subsidized exam fees, strict program management, and merit-based awards for teachers and students. NMSI’s College Readiness Program is currently working in more than 560 schools across more than 25 states. Note: *Advanced Placement and AP are registered trademarks of the College Board.
Funders and Partners
NMSI was initiated as a public-private partnership, led by private donors such as Exxon Mobil Corporation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. Today, NMSI’s funders and partners also include the U.S. Department of Education, numerous state-level education initiatives, corporations, and individual donors.