Texas high schools are racing to add engineering courses as state universities battle to increase the low number of students pursuing degrees in math and science disciplines, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Schools are trying to set up alliances with local university engineering programs and industry leaders to better train teachers and write course guides. American students aren’t pursuing careers in engineering as much as foreign students. And according to Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills scores, students are struggling most in science and math.

Most efforts to add courses are recent and still forming. The State Board of Education recently approved an engineering course that would be counted as a fourth-year science credit. The Texas Education Agency and private donors also are funding the start-up of high school academies across the state as part of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiative.

Filed under: K-12 Education News