Jerry Lewis: “I welcome the opportunity to inform my colleagues on the excellent programs put together by the Center for Education…”

“I welcome the opportunity to inform my colleagues on the excellent programs put together by the Center for Education Research in Apple Valley, California. First, it is important to remember that the 21st Century Department of Defense is much more than weapons programs and soldiers in barracks. Tens of thousands of our dedicated men and women in uniform have made a life-long career of defending their nation. They now have families, and it has become our responsibility to provide for those families as they move about our nation to meet the needs of our military. Many schools that serve the children of military families have developed high standards of excellence. But not all schools in all places have met these standards in the past. As the DoD worked to translate these high standards to other schools, the Center for Education Research came forward with a proposed discipline for science nearly a decade ago. The heart of this program is the Goldstone-Apple Valley Radio Telescope curriculum, which allows 10,000 students around the world to take part in NASA research projects by way of the Internet. This program now reaches students and teachers in 27 states, 14 countries and three territories. I want to emphasize that the support of these students is valued and sought out by NASA researchers.…”