School leaders push for science majors

The county's business and political leaders over the past two years increasingly have called for more math-, science- and engineering-degree opportunities to sustain the region's economic growth and high-tech innovations.

Now some Snohomish County school superintendents are calling on the state to create a scholarship program to encourage students to pursue math and science majors in college. The move comes at a time of national alarm over the relative lack of interest by American students in science and technological careers.

Dave Burgess, the superintendent of the Lake Stevens School District, will ask other county superintendents this month to support creation of a state college-scholarship program for students who major in math, engineering or science.

"I'm really concerned that with our focus on getting students to minimum academic standards, there's nothing being done to encourage the brightest students to pursue math and science careers," Burgess said. "The state should make a commitment that will guarantee us a place in the world economy."

Burgess isn't alone in questioning where the nation's future mathematicians and scientists will come from. Leaders of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the national Business Roundtable joined other business leaders last year to call attention to what they said was an "urgent need" to cultivate skilled scientists and engineers.

Their report, "Tapping America's Potential," notes that American 12th-graders scored near the bottom in math when compared with high-school students around the world. The report also says that if trends continue, more than 90 percent of all scientists and engineers will live in Asia by 2010.

The National Science Board, the governing body of the National Science Foundation, held public hearings in Washington, D.C., last month to call for improved education in math, science and technology. The board reported in 2004 that the number of Americans under 25 with science degrees had fallen from third in the world three decades ago to 17th.

In Washington state, a committee appointed by Gov. Christine Gregoire to recommend improvements in education is also examining the issue. State Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, one of the legislative members of the Washington Learns committee, said producing more math and science graduates is "at the top of the list" of members' priorities.

He noted that the panel already has recommended to the 2006 Legislature that it develop programs to better prepare youths for college-level math.

Schmidt said he supports creating a scholarship program for college students who commit to working in science, math or engineering. He said there are scholarship and loan-forgiveness programs for National Guard members who commit to eight years of service, as well as for student teachers who go into high-need fields, including science and math.

The state revived the scholarship program for future teachers in 2005 and this school year had 350 applicants for $250,000 in scholarship money. The state was able to fund just 60 students, said John Klacik, the director of student financial assistance for the state Higher Education Coordinating Board.

"There's a lot of demand and not much money," he said.

A final report of the Washington Learns committee is due in November and may include recommendations to prepare more students for math and science degrees and to support those who don't have the means to pay for college, said Ann Daley, the executive director of Washington Learns.

"I would be very surprised, knowing this governor, if we didn't come out with a very strong recommendation to significantly increase the number of science and math degrees in the state," she said.

Burgess, the Lake Stevens superintendent, said students must begin taking challenging math classes in middle school to be able to pursue math- and science-related majors in college. In a letter to legislators urging their support of the scholarship program, he said the state must act now to encourage those students.

"I would argue that the stakes are too high to ignore this any longer," he wrote.

Lynn Thompson: 425-745-7807 or lthompson@seattletimes.com