California Strives to Increase Number of Mathematics Teachers

December 13, 2006

California reported that it faces a shortage of fully credentialed and qualified mathematics teachers. Thus, the California State University (CSU) system and the state's community colleges have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish pathways for students to transfer to the state's university system and prepare themselves for teaching careers in mathematics.

The community colleges are the largest source of transfer students for the CSU and it is vital that we partner together to help students transfer into teaching programs and complete the essential lower-division coursework, said CSU Chancellor Charles Reed.

"We want," said Reed, "to provide the needed resources and support for students interested in teaching careers, particularly in the math and science fields where the need is the greatest."

As part of the agreement, Web-based resources on recruiting, academic advising and financial aid to transfer centers at the community colleges, with details on grants, scholarships and loan programs will become available.

The demand for new mathematics and science teachers in the next five years is expected to be over 20,000, according to the report "California's Math and Science Teachers: A Critical Path Analysis," by the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST).

For the 2006-2007 school year, California school districts sought to hire 2,700 mathematics teachers, 1,100 more life science teachers, and 1,000 additional physical science teachers, according to California's Department of Education.

Chancellor Marshall Drummond said that California's 109 community colleges enroll more than half of all freshmen college students in the state and the majority of students from underrepresented communities, as well as serve as feeder schools to all 23 CSU campuses.

"We're in a unique position to coordinate our effort with CSU to increase the number of fully credentialed and qualified math and science teachers in California", Drummond said.