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Initiative for Military Families Provides Quality STEM Education for U.S. Military Base High Schools

The Initiative for Military Families is a project of the National Math and Science Initiative that brings college-level coursework to students through advanced placement curriculum. Because AP courses are standard across the country, the fund will provide the opportunity for educational excellence and continuity for students regardless of where their families are transferred. Several of AIA’s largest member companies are supporting this important effort.

NMSI launched IMF during the 2010-2011 school year in four public high schools:  two serving Fort Hood in Texas and two near Fort Campbell in Kentucky. This school year the program was expanded to an additional 25 high schools and commitments have already been made to boost the number to 52 in 2012-2013.

Nearly two million young people in America have a parent serving in the military today. More than 220,000 of those have a parent deployed overseas. Family separation, concerns about safety and frequent transfers can be especially hard on children whose parents protect our country.

Expanding student participation in AP courses through the fund gives students from military families the opportunity to earn college credit for advanced coursework. It also significantly increases their chances of succeeding in college. According to a study by the College Board, a high school student who achieves a qualifying score in just one AP course is more likely than comparable students to graduate from college in four years. Even students who do not achieve a qualifying score on an AP exam tend to fare better in college as a result of exposure to challenging curriculum and rigorous study techniques.

Inaugural funding to launch the program was provided by Lockheed Martin Corporation. Major funding to support additional high schools is being provided by BAE Systems, the Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Office of Naval Research, the Army Education Outreach Program, Exxon Mobil and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

With additional funding, NMSI seeks to expand the Initiative for Military Families to a total of 150 public high schools to ensure that a high percentage of military families will be served.
For more information, please visit:  http://www.nationalmathandscience.org/programs/initiative-military-families

The National Math and Science Initiative is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 to raise math and science achievement in the United States. NMSI’s partners on the Initiative for Military Families include the Military Child Education Coalition, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Military Impacted Schools Association, the Office of Naval Research, the Army Education Outreach Program and the White House’s Joining Force Initiative.

AIA Source: susan.lavrakas@aia-aerospace.org