During the second White House Science Fair on Tuesday, President Barack Obama announced a series of steps his administration will take to train 100,000 math and science teachers.
The graduates plan to teach one million additional STEM graduates over the next decade.
Part of Obama's plan involves an $80 million investment in STEM teacher training, designing policies to retain STEM teachers, placing a priority on undergraduate STEM education and a handful of education initiatives.
Kent Crippen, UF associate professor of STEM education, said although the announcement was welcomed, he remained skeptical about the funding.
"I think there's been a lot of talk. What we need is resources behind it," he said. "We're sort of seeing that, but it's all tied up in the current economic situation."
Students majoring in math or science can become a part of the UF Teach program and minor in education. Crippen said the minor gives students basic teaching fundamentals and the necessary credentials to get a state teaching license, offering an alternative career path.
Alexis Thomas, a mathematics junior and UF Teach student, said the funding will be helpful but believes more needs to be done to improve the nation's teachers.
"I think right now there's not a lot of incentive for people to go into teaching, period," she said. "I think the biggest incentive would be to pay teachers a little bit more."
