Washington, DC – July 19, 2002 - The Math and Science Partnership Working Group, an ad hoc coalition of business associations and companies, expressed its disappointment over the funding levels recommended today by the Senate Appropriations Committee for the Math Science Partnerships authorized under Title II, Part B, of the No Child Left Behind Act.

"While we recognize that the Committee did provide a funding increase for the Math/Science Partnership Program, it falls short of the $100 million or more that would make funds available to every state in the country," said Thom Stohler, Chair of the Math/Science Partnership Working Group. "The Committee may have essentially doubled the appropriations in today’s action, but it is still a 95% reduction in funding from Fiscal Year 2001. The reduction of available resources to K-12 math and science education is unacceptable, especially given the requirements of the ‘No Child Left Behind’ Act and the need to improve math and science achievement of our nation’s children."

"At a time when 12^th grade American students on average are performing well below their international peers, when national assessments demonstrate that only 27% of 4^th and 8^th grade American students are proficient in math and science, there is clearly a need to improve math and science education," said Stohler. "We appreciate the fact that the Subcommittee saw a need to increase resources, but the absolute level of this increase is so small that very few states will be able to access these funds. Unfortunately, our nation’s most vulnerable children will not receive the resources necessary to improve their math and science achievement."