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The Effectiveness of a Summer Program to Attract Minority Students into Mathematics and Science Teaching, their Attitudes towards Science, Mathematics and Teaching, and their Decision to Attend College

Abstract

This paper describes the effectiveness of a summer program to attract urban minority high school students into science and mathematics teaching. The Advanced Academy for Future Teachers (AAFT) is a three-week summer program for rising juniors and seniors jointly sponsored by Atlanta Public Schools and Georgia State University. AAFT content focuses on elementary and secondary mathematics and science as well as various aspects of teaching. On the average over 69% of all AAFT participants reported that AAFT either had reinforced their decision to become a teacher or made them want to become a teacher. Qualitative data as well as preliminary data on post-graduation college attendance is reported.