FREE COMPUTERS, MATH CLASSES PREPARE TEENS FOR COLLEGE

Rice University Teams with Houston Non-profits on Math Program for Inner-city Youth

HOUSTON— July 15, 2002 — More than 70 inner-city school children from five Houston high schools will receive free computers today as part of a collaborative, college preparation program involving Rice University, Project GRAD and Technology For All.

The computers, which were donated by St. Luke’s Hospital, will be given to the students at a 10 a.m. ceremony at Technology For All’s Houston Milby Outreach Center at 2220 Broadway St.

The computers will be given to students who completed last month’s Rice University Project GRAD Advanced Summer Mathematics Academy. The three-week math academy involved three hours of daily preparatory math instruction designed to prepare students for upper-level high school math courses such as algebra and calculus. The math academy is also designed to immerse students in a rigorous university environment in order to prepare them for college admissions exams. The academy was completed by 76 honor students from five inner-city high schools -- Davis, Reagan, Sam Houston, Wheatley and Yates.

“Rice University’s K-12 outreach programs are a critical element of the university’s efforts to fulfill it’s overall mission of serving the educational needs of the larger Houston community,” said Roland Smith, associate provost of Rice University. “Rice has a responsibility as a contributing member of the greater Houston community to ensure that children from all segments of society are prepared for a future that includes a college education, and programs like Project GRAD and Technology For All are helping us fulfill that mission.”

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Inner-city Teens Get Free Computers, Math Training -- 2

This year’s Rice University Project GRAD Advanced Summer Mathematics Academy consisted of four groups of students taking three separate courses: ‘Algebra II Start’ for students entering Algebra II during the 2002–2003 academic year, ‘Pre-Calculus Start’ for students entering Pre-Calculus, and ‘Calculus Start’ for students planning to take Calculus.

An activity-based, technology infused curriculum for each course was developed by the Rice University School Mathematics Project. The curriculum focused on national standards, state standards including TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) and HISD’s Project CLEAR. Assisted through instructional support by RUSMP staff, students were taught principles and concepts by master teachers from HISD who were selected for their exemplary knowledge and for their experience working with inner-city students in higher-level mathematics.

On...Educational outreach at Rice University evolved as a natural outgrowth of the research, teaching and service of Rice’s faculty, who understand the benefits of sharing and testing the latest knowledge in their fields both with educators and private sector managers. Rice University's Education Outreach Office oversees more than 60 programs that directly or indirectly affect 5,000 K-12 teachers and 80,000 students each year.

Project GRAD is a private, not-for-profit organization with a 12-year history of improving student academic performance and increasing graduation rates. Project GRAD is a collaborative effort between schools and the community to address the educational needs of the inner-city school system. The philosophy guiding the program is that all pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students can be effective learners, regardless of demographic background.

Technology For All is a national nonprofit initiative focused on bringing technology to underserved communities. Using a network model to bridge the digital divide, TFA is creating educational, economic and personal opportunities for America's underserved. Corporate sponsors include SmartForce, FYI-Net, Shell, and BP. Program partners include HUD's Neighborhood Network Initiative, the America Connects Consortium, the LINCT Coalition, local TFA initiatives and individual CTCs across the U.S. Local TFA initiatives or supportive CTC relationships exist in fifteen U.S. cities.

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About BP
BP is an international company involved in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas; refining, marketing, supply and transportation of hydrocarbons, manufacturing and marketing of petrochemicals, and solar and gas-fired power generation. BP has more than 4,000 employees at its Houston offices. Web Site: www.bp.com

Technology For All (TFA) is a national nonprofit initiative focused on bringing technology to underserved communities. Using a network model to bridge the digital divide, TFA is creating educational, economic and personal opportunities for America’s underserved. Corporate sponsors include SmartForce, Shell, FYI-Net, BP, ExxonMobil and others. Program partners include HUD’s Neighborhood Network Initiative, the America Connects Consortium, the LINCT Coalition and local TFA initiatives individual CTCs. Local TFA initiatives exist in Houston, Texas, Portland, OR, Los Angeles, CA, Washington DC and Colorado. TFA national headquarters are located at 109 North Post Oak Lane, Suite 425, Houston, Texas, 77024. Phone: 713.316.5764.

Web site: www.techforall.org

Technology For All and the Technology For All logo are trademarks of Technology For All. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

Rice University is consistently ranked one of America's best teaching and research universities. It is distinguished by its: size-2,700 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students; selectivity-10 applicants for each place in the freshman class; resources-an undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5-to-1, and the fifth largest endowment per student among American universities; residential college system, which builds communities that are both close-knit and diverse; and collaborative culture, which crosses disciplines, integrates teaching and research, and intermingles undergraduate and graduate work.