U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today announced that William Paterson University will be awarded $899,469 in federal funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to recruit and train undergraduate science and math majors to teach in high need school districts. 
 
“I applaud William Paterson University for being so proactive in addressing the shortage of math and science teachers, particularly in high-need districts,” stated Pascrell, a former teacher. “This is the second federal grant William Paterson has been awarded in just two months to enhance the educational experience for urban students.”
 
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented science and mathematics majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The program provides funds to institutions of higher education to support scholarships, stipends, and academic programs for undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) majors and post-baccalaureate students holding STEM degrees who commit to teaching in high-need K-12 school districts. 
 
“I’m pleased that more stimulus funding will benefit New Jersey classrooms and empower students with new opportunities to excel in math, engineering and the sciences,” stated Pascrell.  “This grant award is a great example of how the stimulus bill will help train young people and professionals to prepare future generations of American students for the 21st century,” stated Pascrell.  

With this grant award, William Paterson University's Robert Noyce project intends to recruit at least 38 undergraduate science and mathematics majors and 8 professionals into K-12 teaching (specifically grades 5-12). Those who intend to teach elementary or middle school receive a thorough education in a variety of sciences and mathematics. Those who intend to teach high school receive an in-depth education in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Mathematics. Prior to their first year of teaching, Robert Noyce scholars will be required to attend an August Institute for Novice Teachers. This project is being conducted in collaboration with the Paterson and Passaic Public Schools in northern New Jersey.

The project has three main objectives.  First it will seek to increase the number of science and math teachers who graduate each year.  Second it will seek to increase the number of second-career science and math teachers who graduate. Third, it will seek to add Noyce program student-teachers in high-need schools in Paterson and Passaic while supporting their first two years of teaching.

Dr. Sandra DeYoung, dean of William Paterson University’s College of Science and Health, stated that “the 46 teachers, many of whom will be from minority groups, will impact all of the students they teach in ensuing years, enabling those students to be better prepared for our technological world.”

William Paterson University was recently awarded over $3 million in federal grant funding through the Department of Education’s Transition to Teaching program to help address critical teacher shortages in high-need northern New Jersey school districts through use of an alternate route teacher certification program.

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