Posted on: Saturday, October 6, 2001

Rural schools to benefit from $6 million award

Advertiser Staff

A consortium led by the Department of Education and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa has received a $6 million, five-year award from the National Science Foundation to improve science, math and technology education in the state's rural public schools.

The money is expected to benefit 60 elementary and secondary schools and at least 24,000 students.

The DOE will work with the university's Department of Information and Computer Science and School for Ocean, Earth Science and Technology to develop the program, Hawai'i Networked Learning Communities, with the schools.

The benefits that each school should see include extensive teacher training with the latest technology tools; curriculum aligned with the DOE's math and science standards; and establishment of an interactive, on-line center that links schools with science and math experts.

Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu said he believes the program will better prepare public school students for technology jobs.

The National Science Foundation, a independent U.S. government agency, promotes science and engineering through programs that invest more than $3.3 billion each year.