On January 31, 2006, President Bush delivered his sixth State of the Union address to Congress. During the speech, Bush announced a new “American Competitiveness Initiative.” The American Competitiveness Initiative would commit new resources, $5.9 billion in FY 2007, to increase investments in research and development (R&D), strengthen education, and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. Related to education, Bush said:
“We need to encourage children to take more math and science, and to make sure those courses are rigorous enough to compete with other nations. We've made a good start in the early grades with the No Child Left Behind Act, which is raising standards and lifting test scores across our country. Tonight I propose to train 70,000 high school teachers to lead advanced-placement courses in math and science, bring 30,000 math and science professionals to teach in classrooms, and give early help to students who struggle with math, so they have a better chance at good, high-wage jobs. If we ensure that America's children succeed in life, they will ensure that America succeeds in the world.”
The initiative calls for $380 million in new federal support to “improve the quality of math, science, and technological education in K-12 schools and engage every child in rigorous courses that teach important analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills.” Specific initiatives include additional training for teachers of AP and IB courses, an Adjunct Teacher Corp to encourage math and science professionals to become adjunct high school teachers, and a new “Math Now” program for elementary and middle school students. Additionally, the initiative is expected to include additional provisions for expanded testing and accountability and grants for targeted interventions. More details on the American Competitiveness Initiative can be found on the White House Web site.
Since early 2006, Congress has followed the Administration's lead and made American competitiveness a key component of legislative discussions. Central to these discussions has been the concept of education and development in the STEM fields - Science, Mathmatics, Engineering and Technology.
