Funds to Help Increase the Presence of Computer Science in Georgia Public High Schools

February 15, 2005 - Atlanta, GA - The Toyota USA Foundation today announced that the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC) at Georgia Tech has been named the recipient of a $130,000 grant to support the Institute for Computing Education (ICE@Tech) Program. The grant is one of seven awards totaling over $1 million, announced in December by the Toyota USA Foundation.

ICE@ Tech, a year-round secondary education teacher training initiative, is designed to strengthen the technology skills of current and future computer science teachers, resulting in Advanced Placement (AP) computer science courses being offered in Georgia high schools. The program is delivered by the College of Computing (CoC) at Georgia Tech. “We are delighted to team up with Georgia Tech in this important secondary education initiative,” said Hideaki “Harry” Otaka, Chairman of the Toyota USA Foundation, in announcing the award. “Information technology is one of the driving forces in the U.S. economy, and it is vital that students have the opportunity to pursue studies in the field of computer science while in high school.”

“Recently there has been a downward trend in students electing to pursue careers in this field. We are pleased to join the Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Tech in a partnership to reverse this situation,” Otaka added. The ICE@Tech Program, launched in June 2004 by CEISMC, together with the CoC at Georgia Tech, utilizes an innovative media competition curriculum developed by CoC faculty that has already proven successful with women and minorities. It is anticipated that the ICE@Tech Program will increase the number of public high schools in Georgia that offer AP Computer Science from fewer than 50 percent to all 376 public high schools in the state within the coming decade.

Toyota USA Foundation, Georgia Tech

Upon receiving notification of the award, CEISMC’s Director, Paul Ohme, said, “Georgia Tech is very pleased to receive support from the Toyota USA Foundation. This will allow us to enhance our efforts with the Georgia State Department of Education to increase the effectiveness of secondary teachers who provide instruction in the field of computer science.” In addition to Georgia Tech, other recipients of the Toyota USA Foundation awards are the Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA; Rocking the Boat, Inc., Bronx, NY; the University of Montana Foundation, Missoula, MT; the Saint Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO; Trees for Tomorrow Natural Resources Specialty School, Eagle River, WI and National 4-H Council, Chevy Chase, MD.

The Toyota USA Foundation is a $40 million charitable endowment created to support education programs serving kindergarten through 12th grade students and their teachers in the United States. The Foundation’s emphasis is on supporting mathematics and science. For additional information about the Toyota USA Foundation, visit www.toyota.com/foundation.

Contact:
Mira Sleilati
Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
(212) 715-7435
mira_sleilati@tma.toyota.com