About AR AIMS
Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science, Inc., is an affiliate of the National Math and Science Initiative who funded an Advanced Placement Training and Incentive program with Cohort 1’s ten schools beginning in August 2008. Arkansas was one of seven states selected to receive a National Math and Science Initiative Grant in August, 2007. Each spring, Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science, Inc. invites schools to apply for participation in the program. AR AIMS is now seeking applications for Cohort 12 for the 2020-21 school year.
The goals of the program are to strengthen the teaching of the AP® and grades 6-10 advanced pathway/accelerated mathematics, science, and English courses and to build enrollment and increase the number of students taking and earning qualifying scores on AP® exams in these subjects and better preparing students in general for higher education and career.
The National Math and Science Initiative was formed to address one of this nation’s greatest economic and intellectual threats: the declining number of students who are prepared for and take rigorous college courses in mathematics and science. NMSI is funded by a partnership of private donors, led by ExxonMobil, who are interested in significantly changing the current trends.
A primary goal of NMSI and AR AIMS, Inc. is to increase the number of students taking and scoring 3 or higher (to gain college credit) on math, science and English Advanced Placement exams. Other goals include educating and assisting schools in recruiting more students for advanced classes in grades 6-12 and providing the resources and mentoring to enhance overall teacher performance so that more students are prepared for success in those advanced classes and in college and career.
Program features include:
Voluntary participation on the part of students, teachers, and schools
Advanced-level, content-focused training for teachers of AP® and Advanced/Accelerated teachers in math, science, and English courses
Onsite mentoring of teachers by content specialists
Online resources specifically designed to enhance the effectiveness of teachers
Continuous access to teachers
Reduced charges for world class professional development:
summer LTF Infused Advanced Instructional Methods & Strategies for English, math, and science teachers, grades 6-12
Fall 2-Day Content Conference Workshops for AP English, math, and science
Spring 1 or 2 day AP Exam Mock Reading Workshop in English, math, and science
For more information on AR AIMS and how to become an AR AIMS school visit our website at-
AR AIMS Staff
AIMS President: Lynn Harrison-Bullard, slharrison2@ualr.edu
AIMS Program Director: Rhonda Riggin, rxriggin@ualr.edu
AIMS English Director: Susan Skinkle, slskinkle@ualr.edu
AIMS Math Director: Summer Vaught, slvaught1@ualr.edu
AIMS Science Director: Tanya Ruble, tlruble@ualr.edu
AIMS Program Assistant: Ginger Abernathy, ghabernathy@ualr.edu