Perry signs science education bill

Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill Tuesday that will create a weeklong summer program for middle school and high school students interested in studying math, science and engineering.

The bill, which allocates about $2 million for colleges and universities around the state, also establishes a scholarship program for would-be engineering students.

Perry said the summer progam and scholarship, the funding for which fell far short of his original $43 million request, will be vital in helping the state continue to train much needed scientists, mathematicians and engineers students.

Perry signed the bill at the El Paso campus of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where he also touted legislative efforts to give the El Paso medical school campus about $48 million in funding that will allow the campus to morph into a complete four-year medical school.