St. Scholastica Awarded $1.2 Million from National Science Foundation

Money will go toward scholarships for those students looking to teach the sciences

The National Science Foundation has awarded $1.2 million to The College of St. Scholastica to increase the number of new math and science teachers committed to teaching in high-need districts in Minnesota. The five-year project will focus on rural and urban high-need communities in the Duluth, St. Cloud, and St. Paul areas.

The grant funds will be used to provide Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships, which will be awarded to 34 students who plan to teach and major in math/science teacher education fields.

Across the country, K-12 schools are facing a shortage of math and science teachers. In 2015, St. Scholastica conducted an in-depth survey to determine the true extent of the STEM teacher shortage. Nearly half of the respondents indicated that teaching positions in chemistry, biology, and mathematics would be difficult or impossible to fill. These results were consistent with statewide data compiled in the Minnesota Department of Education Supply and Demand report.

St. Scholastica’s efforts will focus on talented students financial need and groups underrepresented in teaching math and science, including students of color, females and first-generation students. To promote ongoing interest among potential future Noyce Scholars, structured immersion experiences in local math and science classrooms will be provided.