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According to a recent survey, two of the fastest growing sectors in the country require students to be proficient in science and mathematics. In fact, out of the twenty most popular occupations, fifteen require proficiency in these two subjects.

In Iowa, information solutions, advanced manufacturing and bioscience are the three new economic industry sectors in Iowa which require a strong foundation built through twelve years of education in science and maths preparation.

Shortage of well qualified teachers is a major challenge in this regard. According to a survey conducted in the year 2006, eighth grade students who receive instructions in maths in most of the US schools do so from teachers who are not even certified in mathematics. The year 2000 saw at least 93% of fifth and ninth grade students in America receiving physical science instructions from teachers who did not major in the subject.

Estimates show an alarming figure of a shortage of 283,000 qualified science and math teachers by the year 2015 for classes’ pre-K to 12. Teacher shortage will be felt more in the rural, urban and low-income areas. In Iowa itself, there are at least 300 openings for teachers to instruct over 250 students with a major in science and maths at three institutions.

The average cost of recruitment and training of teachers in America works out to $3,600. At least half the teachers thus recruited and trained leave their jobs within five years causing heavy losses to institutions around the country.

Another major challenge is the lack of rigor and proficiency among students. For instance, only about one third of the fourth and eighth graders in science did not really reach the level of proficiency. Not even fifty percent of the seniors in high school reached the basic competency level.

ACT is a selection exam for college algebra eligibility. In Iowa, at least 66% of students take this exam out of which only fifty percent get through as a target for college algebra. According to a 2006 annual condition of education report by the education department on Iowa, only 22.5% students took computer course, 26.3% took physics and two thirds took chemistry in 2006.

In order to effectively address these challenges, the State of Iowa’s Board of Regents has created a collaborative initiative program in science and mathematics education. The predominant goals of this initiative is to promote coordination and collaboration statewide, to prepare prepare more number of teachers to provide quality science and mathematics instruction to students and to improve performance in science and maths among students in Iowa.

This initiative works on a number of desired outcomes including enhancement of Pre-K through 12 systems, community colleges, private sector interests, governmental bodies and Regent institution collaboration within Iowa State, improved student performance in Iowa Pre-K through 16 students in science and maths in the state, in three to five years, doubling the number of science and maths teachers in Iowa universities and community colleges, decrease maths and science teachers attrition rate and increase socioeconomic, racial and ethnic diversity of science and maths teachers in Iowa.