Boeing and Hewlett Foundation Team up with UC Irvine Extension to Launch New Online Courses to Prepare K-12 Teachers for the CSET; New Programs Will Support Governor's 'California Teach' Initiative.

IRVINE, Calif. -- University of California (UC) announced today UC Irvine Extension's plans to develop online courses to prepare science and mathematics teachers for the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET). UC Irvine Extension's program will address the urgent need to help teachers prepare for and pass a test which measures the subject matter competency of teachers seeking credentials to teach science or mathematics in California schools. Currently about 40 percent of teachers do not pass the CSET on their first attempt, due to a lack of familiarity with the content and/or the format of the exams.

"The statistics are powerful and tell a compelling story," said Morgan Appel, director of education programs for UC Irvine Extension. "We must increase the number of highly qualified science and math teachers in a way that is focused, cost-efficient, and easily accessible for current and future teachers."

To support the development of these programs, The Boeing Co. and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation have donated $150,000 and $200,000, respectively, to the Regents of University of California to be administered by UC Irvine Extension.

This initiative complements the recently announced "California Teach" plan by the University of California and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The purpose of "California Teach" is to graduate at least four times as many new math and science teachers -- from 250 to 1,000 a year -- by 2010.

"If California is to be a leader in tomorrow's increasingly global economy, emphasis on science and math instruction is fundamental," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. Currently, nearly 1,500 mathematics and 800 science classes in California high schools are being taught by teachers lacking the appropriate credential. By launching CSET-preparation courses, UC Irvine Extension is providing the tools necessary for science and math teachers to prepare for, and pass, the CSET.

Boeing's gift of $150,000 will fund the crucial first- and second-phase development of UC Irvine Extension's 10-course sequence titled the Online Science Preparation Initiative (OSPI), while the $200,000 grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation will be used to develop three online courses designed to prepare mathematics teachers for the CSET. The goal of the program is to increase the number of highly qualified science and math teachers in high-need areas in California and across the nation.

The online test-preparation courses will correspond with the 10 CSET science subtests and three CSET mathematics subtests. They will be designed by UC Irvine's Distance Learning Center and will be available through UC Irvine Extension via online instructor-facilitated courses. An additional and distinctive feature of these programs is that they will be used as part of a growing Open Educational Resource (OER) movement which will allow self-learners to view and utilize the materials and resources, through the Web, free of charge.

Boeing's contribution will be dedicated to identifying existing science content for online test-preparation courses for teachers. The grant also will support the production, pilot testing and broader dissemination of courses focused on the foundation of the sciences.

"By supporting UC's CSET-preparation courses and aligning ourselves with the Governor's Math and Science Initiative, we are able to help achieve the objective of raising the quality of science education in California," said Ron Marcotte, VP of Boeing's Airlift and Tankers Program. "This is a win-win for the company and the state. We have the potential to become better partners in the community and the chance to hire the students who are going to benefit from more qualified teachers."

The $200,000 Hewlett Foundation donation will be used to develop, pilot test and make publicly available, as facilitated courses and Open Educational Resources (OER), three online mathematics courses to prepare mathematics teachers for the CSET.

"We believe that these courses will significantly improve the quality of K-12 science and mathematics teachers," said Marshall Smith, education program director for the Hewlett Foundation. "Perhaps as important is the fact that these materials will be accessible to anyone online for free as part of the Open Educational Resource exchange initiative."

The Hewlett Foundation makes grants to solve difficult social and environmental problems facing society. The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on activities in education, environment, global development, performing arts, philanthropy, population, and makes grants to support disadvantaged communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Foundation has an endowment of approximately $6.3 billion, and in 2004 made gifts and grants totaling $268,041,368.

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft. With rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information systems, the company reaches 145 countries. They are the largest manufacturing employer in the state and annually contribute more than $5 million to educational institutions and non-profit organizations in California.

As the continuing-education arm of a prestigious university, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a transforming learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and personal development programs to support a diverse audience from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus events and activities. UC Irvine Extension continues to provide a university-level learning experience to all students.