Governor Blunt Calls for Greater Emphasis on Math and Science

Governor Blunt says Missouri needs to push its schoolchildren to excel in math and science. Blunt says the Math and Science Summitt he convened this week in Jefferson City is just the beginning of a push to stress the importance of math, engineering, technology and science to students. Blunt says students need to be taught the value of math and science, not just to provide them more employment options, but to help the state move forward in an economy spurred by advancing technologies.An interim group will develop strategies to emphasize math and science to educators, business executives and lawmakers. Blunt says test scores need to improve from pre-school to college. He says studies indicate that American schoolchildren compete well internationally through 4th grade, only to fall behind in high school. Blunt says the state’s economy will become more and more dependent on workers proficient in math and science. The departments of education, higher education and economic development will work together to create a data and research center to guide improvements.