Bob Case, Emeritus Mathematics professor and alum of Boston public schools noted that students living in the city, coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, were not receiving the same caliber of mathematics education as their counterparts in the suburbs, so he decided to do something about it.  In 1994, Bob Case founded  Bridge to Calculus. This six-week program, led by Boston public school teachers and held on the Northeastern University Boston campus, offers rising high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to enhance and strengthen their math skills prior to taking Calculus the following year.

Over the years, this program has notably increased student preparedness and improved the education system as a whole.

“It’s this circle that feeds itself: The students are getting stronger, [so] the [public school] classes improve. When the classes improve, the students get stronger,” says Director of Bridge to Calculus and Northeastern Mathematics professor, Rajini Jesudason in a recent interview with the American Mathematical Society.

The Bridge to Calculus program has been recognized by the American Mathematical Society for its contributions to the community, and with an Epsilon Award for aiding and promoting programs that support and nurture mathematically talented youth in the United States.

Learn more about the Bridge to Calculus program.

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University.