Obama has pledged four billion dollars for education reform in the STEM subjects
but for the states who can re-vamp their own curricula and boost scores
without federal aid. (Creative Commons)

"Correction Appended"
After being in school for two weeks, Becky Muanph's chemistry class was cut due to the budget. As a result, Muanph isn't enrolled in any science class.

"It's ruining my year," said Muanph, a sophomore at Mark Keppel High School, one of the five high schools in Alhambra Unified School District. Additionally, she has to enter a lottery to see if she can enroll in a science class next year.

Of the just over 2400 students who attended Mark Keppel High, 98 percent graduated in the 2008-2009 school year, and fewer than half of those graduates completed all courses required for admission by the University of California or the California State University systems. The UC system recommends that all applicants take a science for three years. Unless changes are made to classes, Muanph might not have the credits she needs. [See Correction]
 
"I just wish my school was more organized," said Muanph.
  
In his first State of the Union address, President Barack Obama stressed education reform as a goal that would help create jobs and ensure America's competitiveness as a world leader. An increased commitment to math and science education is part of that plan.
 
For decades, America has been the top nation for scientific research. But this landscape is rapidly changing as the rate of science and math education is decreasing in the U.S. According to 2006 statistics by the National Science Foundation, the average math score for U.S. students was lower than scores in 18 comparison nations (out of 24), and higher than only four other countries. Three of those countries are considered "developing economies" by the foundation.

In science, between the years 2000 and 2006, the number of countries scoring higher than the U.S. on an international assessment test doubled, according to the NSF. Other countries are advancing quickly, while the U.S. remains stagnant or is receding in its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.
 
Last November, Obama announced his campaign to revitalize science and math education in schools, Educate to Innovate. Private funding and programs offer $260 million with an additional $4.35 billion in federal grants offered to schools that can increase their STEM education. Money from federal grants and privately sponsored programs seems to be a drink of water for parched states like California. Budget cuts and nearly statewide bankruptcy have ravaged the education system. Public universities are increasing tuition and imposing waiting lists for otherwise qualified students.

Hit the hardest are school systems in small towns throughout California. Alhambra Unified School District is one of these affected by statewide budget cuts and a depressed economy. Although stimulus money and promises for education reform seem salient to many, they hold little merit for struggling districts like Alhambra Unified.

"I'm not surprised," said Rosemead City Councilman Steven Ly, commenting on the cut science classes, "It's really sad to see that happening." Children in southern Rosemead attend high schools in the Alhambra Unified School District.

Alhambra High School shows even worse prospects than Mark Keppel. According to its school accountability report card for the academic year 2007-2008, only 43 percent of students were at proficiency level or above in science and 44 percent in math, compared to 59 percent and 65 percent respectively at Mark Keppel High School.

Century High School math teacher Luis Lopez-Perez said he feels trapped in his school's curriculum.

"Students lack real-world understanding of the material and miss applications from the classroom to reality," he said. 

If funding weren't an issue, Lopez said he would bring in guest lecturers and promote more hands-on approaches to the material.

This is exactly the kind of innovation that Obama is striving to bring to schools. Unfortunately, without federal funding or any real targeting of private programs, this scenario is not likely for teachers like Lopez.

Federal and private programs are being launched throughout the country: NASA is introducing a summer space program for kids in select schools and companies like Intel and PBS are launching their own programs to help teachers and students alike, in hopes of boosting STEM proficiencies in the U.S.

However, Alhambra hasn't seen any of these programs come to fruition. Although Muanph said she knows about Obama's campaign, she is doubtful that her school will see any real benefit.
  
"I agree with the president's desire," Ly said. "But until I see actual action, I don't know how it's going to affect or whom. It hasn't matriculated down yet."

[Correction: An earlier version of this story listed an incorrect figure for the percentage of students who graduated from Mark Keppel High for the year 2007-2008. The most recent school accountability report shows that 97.9 percent of students graduated in the 2008-2009 school year.]