Bush Proposes Math and Science Initiatives

Plan would train teachers to spread reach of AP courses.

President Bush kicked off what is likely to be a yearlong push to improve global competitiveness by bolstering math and science education for American students during his State of the Union address Jan. 31.

Both Mr. Bush and the Department of Education detailed last week plans to enhance math and science education by training thousands of new teachers in those subjects and increasing access to Advanced Placement courses for low-income students. Mr. Bush’s proposed fiscal 2007 budget, expected to be released this week, is set to include $380 million in new federal funding for those efforts.

Among Mr. Bush’s proposals are the addition of 70,000 new math and science teachers for AP and International Baccalaureate classes and a plan to attract 30,000 additional teachers by 2015 for those subjects from other professions through an...