Montana Starbase Program One Step Closer to Reality. Targets the areas of math, science, and technology for 5th grade students who are typically underrepresented in these areas

The newly formed Montana STARBASE http://www.starbasedod.com program will take one big step forward on Tuesday, June 26th with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Montana National Guard, STARBASE, and the Superintendent of Helena Public Schools to equip and implement the STARBASE program in the state.

Signing the MOU will be STARBASE Program Director Mike Stone, Major General Randy Mosley and Superintendent of Helena Public Schools, Bruce Messinger. The signing will occur at 1 p.m. in the upper conference room of the May Butler Center (55 S. Rodney Street).

An exciting and innovative new program for Montana, STARBASE targets the areas of math, science, and technology for students who are typically underrepresented in these areas. The Montana program will be geared towards the 5th grade with outreach conducted at other levels as time and funding permits.

STARBASE is a national program, funded and supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. At STARBASE, students participate in exciting, hands-on activities in aviation and space exploration, and interact with military personnel to explore careers and make connections with the "real world". In addition to learning critical skills in math, science, and technology, students learn about teamwork, goal setting, and the importance of staying off drugs.

According to Stone, a 5th grade class from those schools participating in the program would be transported to Fort Harrison for four or five separate days of STARBASE instruction. Trained, Montana-certified, and experienced teachers along with military personnel, make learning fun and relevant. Students are encouraged to explore and discover in an environment that builds individual strengths as well as cooperative group skills.

"The signing of the MOU is a show of commitment on behalf of all the signers to the future of the children of this state," Stone stated. ìAlthough there is much work to do, a large hurdle will be crossed when the ink is put to the paper. Invited to attend the signing ceremony are Montana First Lady Nancy Schweitzer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Linda McCulloch, as well as the public.

Regarding the STARBASE program, First Lady Nancy Schweitzer said, "This new program will help kids experience math and science in a very real way. It is an exciting and innovative program."† The First Lady is active through her Math and Science Initiative in helping kids engage in the world of possibilities in the fields of math and science.

According to Mosley, the STARBASE program will be housed at Fort Harrison and will be taught by instructors employed through the Helena School District in concert with the variety of military personnel from all branches of the reserves stationed in Montana.

STARBASE began in 1989 with a dream shared by three people: Barbara Koscak, an elementary school teacher; Brigadier General David Arendts, then Commander of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base; and Richard Racosky, an accomplished pilot and author. Their dream was to create an educational program which responded to the needs of today’s youth through a stimulating hands-on curriculum focusing on science, math, technology, personal development, and drug demand reduction. The dream became a reality with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation in 1989, establishing a successful pilot program in Michigan.† Currently, there are 25 sites throughout the country.

In 1993, Congress authorized and funded the National Guard Bureau http://www.ngb.army.mil to enter into agreements with the Nation’s Governors for the purpose of conducting programs targeted at youth in general, and youth at risk in particular. The goals of the program included providing young people with the values, self-esteem, skills, education and self-discipline needed to succeed as students and adults.

The number of states that participate in the STARBASE program has grown over the years as the need for a more enhanced focus in science and math has become more apparent. STARBASE began in 1992 and since that time, has served over 350,000 students in 54 academies operating on military installations in 33 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

To learn more about the STARBASE national program, visit http://www.starbasedod.com