Getting kids excited about learning is always a challenge, so when something works you stick with it.

That’s what educators in Alabama have discovered with the AMSTI program.

The 10-year-old Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative has been developing and refining interactive programs for students across all age groups and winning praise from teachers.

Using hands-on instruction, the program teaches students about math and science concepts – from physics to biology. It brings in other disciplines (think history, reading, writing) and engages students who learn through play.

The benefits are many: eager, engaged students who develop teamwork skills as well as critical thinking skills.

More important, it produces results. A study by the U.S. Department of Education shows students who participated in an AMSTI program for one year gained two percentile points in the SAT-10 mathematics assessment – the equivalent of an extra 28 days of instruction in mathematics, with no added days on the school calendar.

The program is funded by the state, as it should be. Like many educators and parents, we believe AMSTI is one of the smartest investments our state has made in the future and education of our children in recent years.

It’s proven its value in the first 10 years and will only continue to improve in coming years.