A year after 10 Arkansas schools joined a UALR-based program to implement the National Math and Science Initiative, participating students posted a 30 percent increase in Advance Placement math, science, and English scores in the upper percentiles of 3 to 5.

The most dramatic results showed an 81 percent increase in qualifying scores posted by black and Hispanic students. The qualifying scores of 3, 4, or 5 allow high school students to earn college credit.

“These results, after the first year of implementing AAIMS programs, show that increased educational opportunities are developing the future highly skilled, technical professionals to drive our 21^st-century economy,” Gov. Mike Beebe said. “The National Math and Science Initiative is helping us provide the impetus to excel, and is producing rapid and meaningful outcomes.”

The six states that received the $13.2 grant were chosen by the National Math and Science Initiative to replicate a proven model that dramatically increases the number of students succeeding in college level work. The model includes enhanced teacher professional development, teacher and student incentives, Saturday test prep sessions, and Lead teachers in each of the three content areas.

Exxon Mobil Corp. is the primary supporter of the grants, committing $125 million to the project. Earlier this year, the Walton Family Foundation of Bentonville provided a $2.9 million grant to help AAIMS match the ExxonMobil grant.

The six-year grant established the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science on the UALR campus. Its goal is to increase the number of students taking and scoring 3 or higher on AP math, science and English exams by implementing proven strategies to increase significantly the number of students taking and passing Advanced Placement courses and exams.

The first 10 schools participating in AAIMS are Booneville, El Dorado, Green County Tech, Greenbrier, Springdale Har-Ber, Lake Hamilton, Miss, Newport, Parkview, and Springdale. The 10 AAIMS schools made up 6.8 percent of the total high school enrollment, but they accounted for 69.8 percent of the increase in math, science, and English exams. The AAIMS students also accounted for 81 percent of the increase in the entire state’s math, science, and English exams passed.

The 10 AAIMS schools included 8.2 percent of the state’s minority enrollment, yet they accounted for 98.3 percent of the entire state’s increase in minority math, science, and English exams and 50.7 percent of the increase of minority students achieving qualifying AP scores.

Not only did AP exam scores dramatically improve among the initial 10 schools participating in Arkansas, the AAIMS program nearly doubled the number of students participating in AP classes in the state. In 2006, the schools had 1,582 students participating, and in 2007 that number grew only to 1,606.  In 2008, the total stood at 1,850 and in 2009 the schools had 2,639 students taking the rigorous instruction.

One of every four minority students in Arkansas who made a qualifying score in math, science, or English came from one of the 10 AAIMS schools.

The program also proved successful in improving AP scores for girls. Only 6.8 percent of the state’s female high school enrollment came from the 10 AAIMS schools, yet the AAIMS female participants accounted for 88.3 of the state’s increase in math and science exams taken by girls and 100 percent of the students who passed the math and science tests.

“Because our goal as a state is to prepare all of our students to be ready for college and career upon high school graduation, we are gratified to see how successfully the AAIMS efforts have been in both increasing students’ access to and performance in Advanced Placement courses,” said Dr. Diana Julian, interim commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education. “The evidence is undeniable that participation in rigorous courses such as these greatly enhances students’ opportunities for success after high school.”

In March 2009, an additional 13 Arkansas schools were selected to join the AAIMS program: Ashdown, Crossett, Dumas, Fort Smith Northside, Hamburg, Green Forrest, Magnolia, Pea Ridge, Rivercrest, Rogers Heritage, Rogers High, Russellville, and Waldron High School

A third group will be added later this year.

“This is only the beginning,” said Tommie Sue Anthony, AAIMS president. “AAIMS looks forward to even greater results in the next four years as we replicate the NMSI model. Jobs of the future will require a background in math and science, and we are preparing these students to be successful in these fields in college. We believe that this will ultimately contribute to our state’s economic growth.”