Statisticians reach out to schools. (Curriculum update: the latest developments in math, science, language arts and social studies).

In technical subjects like biology, where the "cutting edge" is often in the news, the opportunities for real-world classroom connections are obvious, says David C. Hoaglin, a, statistician who has been partnered with a high school math teacher through an outreach program of the American Statistical Association's Boston chapter.

Because Hoaglin's field is less visible, he says schools can gain by promoting contact between practicing statisticians and students. Through a growing number of partnership programs being implemented throughout the country, ASA is offering its support in that endeavor.

For example, Adopt-A-School allows a practicing statistician to team up with a local school to offer lectures, presentations, career advice or other activities, explains Megan Kruse, public affairs/careers coordinator at ASA. Local chapters are also encouraged to organize career days that introduce students to jobs in statistics. The organization's Committee on Minorities in Statistics has also been making an effort to forge a relationship between students and statisticians, adds Monica D. Smith, education coordinator at ASA.

"My main focus is on what I can contribute," says Hoaglin, who works at a Cambridge business research and consulting firm. Besides explanations about statistical applications and theory, he offers examples of actual surveys and data analysis from a variety of fields.

"I always think it is a great experience to get the students interacting with real-world applications of our curriculum," says teacher David Bookston. He and another statistics teacher at Needham (Mass.) High School have been working with a statistician from Bayer Corp. this year. "Practicing statisticians bring excitement about the subject and can answer questions that our students have about what lies ahead for them."