BILL NUMBER: ACR 49INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Jeffries (Coauthor: Assembly Member Cook) APRIL 7, 2011 Relative to science and mathematics education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 49, as introduced, Jeffries. Science and mathematics education: Connect a Million Minds Week. This measure would proclaim the week of April 4 to 8, 2011, inclusive, as Connect a Million Minds Week, and would urge all citizens to log on to the Connect a Million Minds Internet Web site and to pledge to connect youth with local opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, The future of our state and our nation depends on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and WHEREAS, Currently, United States 12th graders are performing below the average of 21 countries in science and mathematics; and WHEREAS, In the next decade 80 percent of all jobs will require science and mathematic skills; and WHEREAS, The need for inspiring our youth to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is increasing every day; and WHEREAS, Connect a Million Minds is a philanthropic initiative by Time Warner Cable introducing youth to opportunities and resources that inspire them to develop the important STEM skills they need to become the problem solvers of tomorrow; and WHEREAS, A science- and technology-based curriculum, "Cracking the Codes in the Digital World," was created for thousands of middle school students across 28 states to showcase the digital world of technology; and WHEREAS, Since Connect a Million Minds' inception in November 2009, Time Warner Cable has helped connect more than 50,000 California middle school students in 150 different California communities to after-school opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and WHEREAS, A new hands-on, interactive education curriculum, "Cracking the Codes in the Wireless World," based on national science standards to showcase the wireless world of technology for middle school students, will launch the week of April 4 to 8, 2011, inclusive; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the week of April 4 to 8, 2011, inclusive, as Connect a Million Minds Week in California and urges all citizens to join the 300,000 other citizens who have already invested in our future by logging on to www.connectamillionminds.com and to pledge to connect our youth with local opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.