TRC commits to advancing goal of recruiting, preparing, and retaining 100,000 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers by 2021
100Kin10, a multi-sector network fueling the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers by providing America’s classrooms with 100,000 excellent science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers by 2021, announced that the Texas Regional Collaboratives (TRC) has been accepted as a partner.
The Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching (TRC) is an award-winning statewide network of P-16 partnerships that provide sustained and high intensity professional development to P-12 teachers of science and mathematics across the state.
As part of 100Kin10, the TRC will expand its scope to include computer science. In addition to its work with mathematics and science teachers, the TRC will recruit and provide professional development to teachers of computer science throughout Texas. Currently, only 2% of Texas high school graduates take a computer science course in high school. This is in part due to the lack of qualified and certified computer science teachers. The need for professional development to increase the number is profound. The TRC has already begun working on these efforts. More information about computer science resources and professional development through the TRC can be found here.
In general, more and better-trained STEM teachers are essential to preparing America’s students to fully participate in our democracy and to understand and respond to complex national and global challenges. To compete in the global marketplace and provide opportunity to all young Americans, all students—not just those fortunate enough to attend certain schools—must have basic STEM skills and knowledge. The TRC is one of the 236 best-in-class 100Kin10 partners that has designed and taken on a specific piece of work to help achieve the goal of 100,000 excellent STEM teachers.
Organizations are accepted as 100Kin10 partners following a rigorous vetting process conducted by a team of partner and other experts in education and in STEM. Reviewers seek organizations with strong leadership, a track record of success at implementation, and a well-designed and innovative commitment to action toward expanding, improving, and retaining the best of the nation’s STEM teaching force, or building the 100Kin10 movement.
The TRC was accepted because of the strength and significance of its “commitment, …organizational capacity and leadership, and…ability and desire to contribute meaningfully to the goal of 100Kin10.” The review panel specifically mentioned the significant impact the TRC’s commitment will have on rural schools.
A complete list of partners—with new partners highlighted—is available on the 100Kin10 website.
To support partners in fulfilling their ambitious commitments and working together to spark innovation, 100Kin10 offers access to exclusive opportunities that build capacity, enable collaboration and shared learning to find new solutions and solve joint challenges, and facilitate funding and access to resources. For example:
- Over 95% of partners shared data about their STEM teaching work—including programmatic priorities, components, and outcomes—in response to a network-wide survey, part of 100Kin10’s growing body of research and learning;
- Thirty partners took part in 100Kin10’s first foray into partner-driven collective action, co-investing in a teacher recruitment campaign that reached over 50 million on social media;
- More than 115 partners have received grants in support of their programmatic work, totaling over $53 million through 130+ awards; and
- More than 50 partners applied for and have been awarded over $200,000 in small grants that enable in-person meeting and collaboration to advance their 100Kin10 commitments.
