To bring more educators into the classroom, the National Math and Science Initiative is working with Texas Instruments and the Dell Foundation to prepare almost 5,000 new math and science teachers in the next five years - through a program that allows young people to earn teaching certificates and science degrees at the same time."

President Barack Obama January 6, 2010, "Educate to Innovate" Campaign

UTeach Program

UTeach Program

THE PROBLEM
The U.S. is failing to produce and retain sufficient numbers of qualified math and science teachers to keep America internationally competitive. It is estimated that the U.S. will need 200,000 more math and science teachers by 2015. Talented math and science teachers with strong content knowledge are urgently needed to help students reach their potential.

THE NMSI SOLUTION
The UTeach program to recruit and train math and science teachers is transforming the way universities prepare teachers. UTeach produces teachers that are confident and competent in their subject matter. This pace-setting program was developed at The University of Texas at Austin in 1997 and has proved such a success that the model is being replicated nationwide by the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) in conjunction with the UTeach Institute.

UTEACH HAS A TRACK RECORD OF RESULTS:

  • UTeach has produced a steady increase in the number of highly trained teachers with a strong background in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. The flagship UTeach program at The University of Texas graduates an average of 70 certified teaching candidates annually with degrees in STEM fields.
  • Approximately 92 percent of UTeach graduates go directly into teaching, even though they have many other opportunities with their credentials in their major areas of study.
  • The retention rate among UTeach graduates is at 82 percent after five years of teaching, compared to fewer than 65 percent nationally.
  • UTeach draws academically talented students into teaching whose GPAs compare favorably to that of their peers in colleges of mathematics and natural science as well as students in traditional education degree programs.

THE CORE ELEMENTS OF THE UTEACH FORMULA FOR SUCCESS INCLUDE:

  • Active recruitment and financial incentives, such as offering the first two courses free or providing tuition stipends.
  • A compact degree program that allows students to graduate in four years with a degree and a teaching certification.
  • A strong focus on acquiring deep content knowledge in math and science, in addition to research- based teaching strategies focusing on teaching and learning math and science.
  • Early and intensive field teaching experience, beginning in the students’ first semester.
  • Personal attention and guidance from highly experienced master teachers, faculty and successful public school teachers.

 

The UTeach program is in high demand, with 28 universities in 13 states now replicating the program. Enrollment has tripled in the last three years. More than 4,900 students are enrolled in the program in fall 2011. Click here for a map of our current UTeach universities.

The UTeach Institute estimates that the new math and science teachers from the first cohort of 13 universities alone will impact more than one million students over the course of their teaching careers, based on the average retention rate for UTeach graduates. It is anticipated that with future funding, UTeach can be expanded to 50 universities in the next decade, creating a new generation of math and science teachers for a highly competitive new era.

UTeach has proven a very successful model for preparing our next generation of science and math teachers. We’re very excited to have the opportunity to replicate the program at universities across the United States. The more the program spreads, the more fine teachers we will be producing to inspire and educate our nation’s children to discover and create new science and technology for the future."

—Dr. Mary Ann Rankin, CEO, NMSI