The Arkansas Mathematics and Science Coalition (AMSC) is a loosely structured organization.  Much of the activity is centered at the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the Arkansas Department of Education.  Improvement in mathematics and science education is taking place through regional centers at twelve universities and fifteen educational service cooperatives throughout the state.  This effort is complemented with 27 Mathematics Specialists and 27 Science Specialists stationed at the universities and cooperatives to provide and coordinate continuing mathematics and science education for teachers in grade levels K-12. The center directors and the specialists work together in many efforts to align curriculum and provide inservice opportunities.

2007-2009 Highlights
The Arkansas STEM Coalition:

• participated in Research Day at the Capitol at the beginning of the 2007 and the 2009 legislative sessions by providing a poster session and brochures with information about the AR STEM Coalition, the Arkansas Science and Technology Agency and the 12 Centers for Mathematics and Science Education located at  institutions of higher education.  
• was instrumental in supporting a funding package during the 2006 special legislative session for 8 months of state funding for 12 elementary science specialists which completed a full fourth year of funding that started with a National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant.  
• developed an Elementary Science Education Vision for the state which was proposed as a resolution in the 2007 legislative session and was successfully supported.  
• supported the expansion of the number of science specialists from 12 to 27 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007. This request was approved and authorized in the 2007 legislative session. Funding was given to the Arkansas Department of Education and provided 27 grants to the 12 Centers for Math and Science Education and the 15 Educational Service Cooperatives for support for the 27 science specialists as well as 27 mathematics specialists.  
• was instrumental in supporting a funding package during the 2009 legislative session to retain the mathematics and science specialists for another two years.  

• organized 8 subcommittees which meet bi-monthly and are listed below:  Technology, Elementary STEM Education,  Secondary STEM Education, STEM Undergraduate Degree and Workforce, STEM Graduate Degree and Workforce, STEM Teacher Education, and STEM Public Education Metric (Evaluation) Committee  
• The Technology Task Force, a subcommittee of the Arkansas STEM Coalition, developed a web-portal with the help of the Information Network of Arkansas. STEM-related lesson plans have been posted for middle level teachers on the web portal.  
• is advocating for the state to become a partner in the Parnership for 21st Century Skills.  
• supported legislation to provide grants to STEM teachers as increases in salary through private funding as part of the legislative package from Accelerate Arkansas.

The NES Partnerships for Sustainability Program was launched in 2003 as a pilot to gauge the effectiveness of state-based coalitions working in active collaboration with the NASA Explorer Schools. As part of this pilot funding was awarded to Arkansas Mathematics and Science Coalition (AMSC) in partnership with Langston Elementary Magnet School in Hot Springs and Harris Elementary NASA School in North Little Rock for Environmental and Space Science, to develop, support and sustain the efforts of the NES in the state.
Mission: The Arkansas Mathematics, Science and Technology Coalition is a statewide partnership of leaders from the corporate, education, government and community sectors which plans, encourages, coordinates and advocates policies, strategies, and programs supportive of excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning in order to expand the economy of Arkansas and produce higher paying jobs.      

Goals of the Coalition:   

• Identify and promote appropriate science, technology, engineering and mathematics curricula and integrate technology into core curricula.    
• Increase interest in STEM in elementary education. For example but not limited to:  
1. Retain and expand science specialist 
2. Retain math specialists  
3. Increase quality of classroom instruction.  
4. Integrate technology into classroom curriculum.    
• Increase enrollment in STEM in secondary education. For example but not limited to:  
1. Expand science specialist program  
2. Retain and expand mathematics specialist program  
3. Increase quality of classroom instruction.  
4. Integrate technology into classroom curriculum.      
• Increase the number of students with STEM undergraduate degrees living and working in Arkansas.    
• Increase the number of students with STEM graduate degrees living and working in Arkansas.    
• Increase the number of individuals with undergraduate and graduate STEM education degrees living in Arkansas and involved in education and the quality of STEM curricula.    
• Educate parents, students, counselors (and teachers/administrators) on importance of STEM education. (PHASE II)  
1. Career discussion   
2. Use Business to make connection with STEM education importance  
3. Disseminate information on innovation and successful models    
• Develop metrics to measure success