The program is a collaborative effort among Raytheon Aircraft Company, the City of Wichita, Wichita State University and partnering schools in Sedgwick and surrounding counties through WSU's unique Alternative Teacher Certification Program.

"The partnership between Raytheon Aircraft, Wichita State University, the City of Wichita, and Wichita area schools to provide these scholarships once again shows how this community pulls together to help people," said Mayor Knight. "The Wichita Aerospace Transition to Teaching Program will not only benefit laid-off workers, but it will benefit the children attending our schools for generations to come."

"The Wichita Aerospace Transition to Teaching Program will begin to immediately address the area-wide problem of teacher shortages," said Raytheon Chairman and CEO Jim Schuster. "At the same time it will help those impacted by the on-going layoffs in the aerospace industry who elect to make a significant career change into teaching at this time in our industry's history."

It is projected that approximately 130 to 160 secondary teachers will be needed for the 2002-03 school year in area schools just in the disciplines of math, science, English and foreign language, the greatest shortage areas.

"The need for qualified public school teachers is an on-going problem that can be partly relieved with this program," said Don Beggs, WSU president. "A greater focus on science and mathematics, paired with a number of retiring baby boomer teachers, places the teacher shortage in a critical mode. Transitioning eligible aircraft workers into this field is an appropriate use of human resources."

Under the Wichita Aerospace Transition to Teaching Program, the Raytheon Charitable Gift Fund will provide $236,000 to WSU to manage the program, including up to two years of follow-up classroom supervision for new teachers qualified under its auspices. The Raytheon Charitable Gift Fund is a special trust established to support teacher preparation, access and opportunity, and environmental stewardship in those communities where Raytheon Aircraft has significant facilities and employment.

Additionally, the City of Wichita has committed $100,000 from a special U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Investment Act program it administers that will be distributed in the form of direct scholarships to the program participants.

Wichita State will immediately begin screening applicants for the spring 2002 semester. Typical applicants will be degreed, laid off from one of the area's aerospace companies or related industries or the spouse of a laid-off worker, and committed to permanently redirecting their career toward education. It is anticipated that a number of participants will be employed this spring as substitute teachers during the day and will attend classes at WSU in the evening. During the summer they will attend classes during the day in preparation for provisional certification and potential employment in area school systems by the fall 2002 semester.

The Wichita Aerospace Transition to Teaching Program is a follow-up to the Raytheon Teaching Fellows program, a 3-year $500,000 effort aimed at educating future mathematics and science teachers. The program announced today is not limited to mathematics and science, even though they are high need areas; it has been designed for teacher shortage fields where districts have a difficult time finding qualified applicants.

Those interested in participating in the program should call the WATT information line at (316) 978-6580, or visit www.wichita.edu/education/alternativecertification.