Attracting PhDs to K-12 Education A Demonstration Program for Science, Mathematics, and Technology

National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Policy and Global Affairs, Center for Education, Committee on Attracting Science and Mathematics PhDs to K-12 Education: From Analysis to Implementation — 2002

The National Research Council (NRC) has undertaken a three-phase project to explore the possibility of a program to attract science, mathematics and engineering PhDs to careers in K-12 education. The first phase of the project surveyed the interests of recent PhDs in science and mathematics in pursuing careers in secondary education. Analysis of the Phase I data suggests that a significant percentage of PhDs might be interested in pursuing careers in secondary education under some circumstances. This report from the second phase of the project presents a proposal for a national demonstration program to determine how one might prepare PhDs to be productive members of the K-12 education community. The proposed program is designed to help meet the needs of the nation's schools, while providing further career opportunities for recent PhDs in science, mathematics and engineering.