Governors introduce plan to improve math and science

In what is hoped will be an improvement in school reform, the National Governors Association announced a plan called Innovation America--designed to increase American students' competitiveness in school, particularly in the areas of math and science, reports eSchool News.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, the new head of the NGA, announced the program to leaders after taking the helm of the governors' group. The proposal attempts to bring American schools out of a performance tailspin, compared to less-industrialized nations, and to prepare students for careers in the new global economy.

"To be competitive as a nation, we must prepare our young people to meet the real demands of the job market. The goal of my Chair's Initiative is to educate our students to be innovators, and to carry that spirit of innovation through their university experience and into the workforce.

Math and science education teaches true problem-solving skills that, in turn, will increase our nation's capacity for innovation in virtually every field.

The NGA says it will work to:

1. raise national awareness about the need to improve U.S. innovation both in the business world and in schools;
2. share examples of best practices and provide a "tool box" of effective policies and strategies for use in schools;
3. present each governor with an economic profile specific to his or her state, including high-growth innovation centers and science and math proficiencies;
4. host regional learning labs and workshops to help states improve education in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math; and
5. form new science and math academies to improve student achievement and grow a workforce in emerging occupations.