WVSPE Sponsors
MATHCOUNTS

What MATHCOUNTS is:
· The first nationwide program to promote math excellence for 7th and 8th grade students
· A cooperative effort of education, business, government and the technological community
· A problem solving skills coaching program and series of competitions at the local, state and national levels
· The first large-scale effort aimed at the junior high level to promote math as an exciting, challenging and absorbing experience, which leads to rewarding career opportunities
· A program that highlights the importance of mathematics among parents, educators and the general public
· Providing a unique opportunity for business leaders and the community to enrich math curricula throughout the country

Your sponsorship of MATHCOUNTS can:
· Show your commitment to your community
· Help today's students-tomorrow's employees-develop the mental skills required in a quality work force.
· Enhance the image of your company.
· Increase your company's visibility in your community-and increase the possibility of media exposure for your company
· Help foster and improve relations with other businesses in your community.

Contact the MATHCOUNTS Director of Development at 703.684.2850 or by e-mail at mathcounts@nspe.org.

What MATHCOUNTS Does:
      Developed in 1982 as the first nationwide program of its kind, MATHCOUNTS combines the efforts of education, business, government and the technological community to promote math excellence among the 7th and 8th grade students. MATHCOUNTS was developed as a positive and rewarding solution to reversing the problem of math illiteracy-and as a way to make parents, educators and the general public aware of career opportunities in math. The program builds skills, promotes strategic problem-solving, and exposes students to complex problems and hard-to-handle numbers: all a critical part of our technological society. And it provides an opportunity to bring 7th and 8th graders together to prompt the lively exchange of mathematical ideas. MATHCOUNTS impacts these student "mathletes" at an age when they are formulating attitudes about math and technology-when they can still elect to take upper-level math courses in high school to prepare them for future math careers.  In fact, career planning is a major component of MATHCOUNTS. Through the program, parents, educators and the general public are all made aware of career opportunities in math. Information on local sponsors, their fields of industry-and how careers in math relate to those industries-can be made an integral part of a local MATHCOUNTS program.

How MATHCOUNTS Works:
The program begins in the schools-thousands of them across the country-with coaching sessions using free materials provided by MATHCOUNTS. Students sharpen their skills in everything from algebra to math logic, probability and statistics. Starting in September, students and teachers work together to develop team work and problem-solving skills. In February, students challenge other mathletes in their area at a local competition. The top teams then progress to state competitions, with the top four individuals advancing to the national finals in Washington, DC.

Program Timetable
     Local and state MATHCOUNTS programs are implemented by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), through it 535 local and state chapters across the country, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), through its 192 affiliated local and state councils. Here is the annual schedule:

September: MATHCOUNTS kick-off, with the distribution of free curriculum materials to all junior high schools in the country.
September through February:   Coaching at individual schools
February:  School team selection and chapter competitions
March:   State competitions
May:  National competition, sponsored by CAN, in Washington, DC.

How the Program is Funded:
     At all levels-local, state and national-the MATHCOUNTS program relies on business and industry sponsors to reach over 500,000 7th and 8th grade students each year. As a MATHCOUNTS sponsor, you can donate money to help fund a specific MATHCOUNTS program. You can also contribute your time and talent, as well as the involvement of your employees, in helping your community' s MATHCOUNTS program.     By supporting MATHCOUNTS in your community you will be helping to tackle a vital national issue-improving the math and science abilities of our youth on the local level.

At the same time, you will have the opportunity to: 
· Demonstrate your concern for quality education
· Help prepare young people for productive careers
· Ensure the technological future of our nation

How You Can Be a MATHCOUNTS Community Sponsor:
Contact and visit local schools.
     Provide MATHCOUNTS materials to teachers and principals and encourage them to participate. Plan an activity to promote interest in mathematics among all students. Consider conducting a plant or site tour, organizing a math fair, making a classroom presentation on how math is used in the workplace, or hosting a Saturday morning of math games and problem-solving challenges.

1. Give employees the go-ahead to help.
     If your company has employees who want to participate in MATHCOUNTS, encourage them to volunteer. They can start a school math club or tutoring program (using the material in the MATHCOUNTS School Handbook) or help with school recruitment and other program logistics.

2. Help publicize the MATHCOUNTS program.
     You might want to provide public service announcements to local radio and TV or plan a press conference to announce sponsorship or competition winners. As you become familiar with the MATHCOUNTS concepts, you may want to address local school or youth groups.

3. Become the catalyst in your community.
     Generate more interest and support for MATHCOUNTS by contacting your business acquaintances who might be similarly interested. MATHCOUNTS is a project that belongs to the entire community-education, business, government, parents and students! 

4. Recognize the achievement of mathletes.
     Participants and winners alike should receive recognition for their efforts. This can take the form of t-shirts, special events and other awards. If you sponsor MATHCOUNTS at the state-level, you may want to notify many communities about the event and its results or even provide the winners with a special send-off dinner prior to their trip to the National Competition in Washington, D.C.    

Visit the MATHCOUNTS website at www.mathcounts.org !