COCHRAN OFFERS BILL TO IMPROVE GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

Measure Addresses Geography as Only Unfunded Core Education Subject

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today introduced legislation intended to give American students a better understanding of the world through geographic literacy education in schools.

The Teaching Geography is Fundamental (TGIF) Act would authorize the creation of a grant program through the U.S. Department of Education to improve K-12 geography curricula, teacher training and materials.  Geography is the only one of nine core subjects that has not received designated federal funding since the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education reform law went into effect in 2002.

“It is a fact that we have a global marketplace, and we need to be preparing our younger generation for competition in the international economy.  A strong base of geography knowledge improves these opportunities,” Cochran said.  “This measure would establish a federal commitment to enhance the education of our teachers, focus on geography education research, and develop reliable, advanced, technology-based classroom materials.  I hope the Senate will consider the seriousness of the need to invest in geography.”

The TGIF Act, offered with U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), would support professional development programs for teachers that are administered in institutions of higher education.  The national scope of this initiative would help reach states whose curricula do not include adequate geography education.

Over the past 15 years, the National Geographic Society has awarded more than $100 million in grants to educators, universities, geography alliances and others to advance and improve the teaching of geography.  The Society supports state geography alliances in 26 states, including Mississippi, to enhance geography education.

The Mississippi Geography Alliance, based at the University of Mississippi, conducts regular workshops for graduate and undergraduate students who are preparing to be certified to teach elementary through high school-level geography.  These workshops have provided opportunities for model teaching sessions and discussion of best practices in the classroom.

Cochran and Mikulski both serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee panel that funds the U.S. Department of Education and programs authorized under NCLB.  The 112th Congress is expected to debate reauthorization of NCLB, the federal elementary and secondary education law.