Funds sought to promote math for girls

Wednesday, April 3, 2002 | 10:11 a.m.

Clark County School District officials will seek $850,000 in federal funds to encourage more girls to enroll in math and science classes and raise the test scores of those who do.

"Gender equity in math and science is a national priority," said Nicole Rourke of the School District's student support services division. "We need to encourage girls to go into these fields, and give our staff the tools and training they need to make it happen."

The Clark County School Board voted Tuesday to submit the grant to the National Science Foundation, which already supports several programs at Las Vegas public schools.

The grant money would be used to launch the Girls Entering Mathematics and Science initiative, or GEMS, at five middle schools. Rather than choosing students based on test scores or class grades, the girls would be selected based on criteria that would promote diversity in the program, according to the district's grant application.

The School District's proposal calls for intensive, 104-minute "blocks" of math and science instruction for girls in a single-sex classroom. Teachers would undergo professional development to ensure "gender neutral" teaching strategies which are more likely to encourage girls to learn, according to the grant application.

The new program would also build on an existing School District project to have 90 percent of all eligible eighth grade students enrolled in an algebra class by 2007.

Studies show that students who take algebra before reaching high school are more likely to go to college, Rourke said. Studies also show that girls often drop out of mathematics and science programs either because of a lack of interest or self confidence in their abilities, Rourke said.

Encouraging girls early on to excel in mathematics and science is critical to their later success, Rourke said.

"The earlier we get them involved and interested, the better," Rourke said.

The five middle schools being considered for the program are: Bridger, Brinley, Cannon, Fremont and Lawrence.