State leaders launched the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics more than 20 years ago as part of a visionary effort to nurture educational excellence in science and math, a strategy that, in turn, would help meet the demands of an increasingly competitive and challenging global marketplace.

The investment was well worth it, as OSSM is arguably the best academic high school in the nation, public or private. Twice this two-year high school, which has graduated students from all 77 counties in the state, has earned the highest composite ACT score in the nation. The achievements of its students are dazzling. OSSM has produced 234 National Merit Scholars, 141 National Merit Commended Scholars and six National Presidential Scholar semifinalists, as well as two Presidential Scholars.

In short, this extraordinary school has fulfilled its promise to Oklahoma. Now I urge the state to fulfill its promise to this extraordinary school.

More than a decade ago, lawmakers committed to helping propel OSSM on to even greater heights by matching private-sector contributions raised for the purposes of completing the dormitory. Additional housing meant OSSM would be able to double its number of accepted students to 280 and subsequently reduce the cost per student.

By 1999, the school's private foundation had secured more than $4 million in private funds for the dormitory expansion. As fate would have it, the state's match was placed in a bond issue that was later declared unconstitutional.

The state commitment to match private- sector funds has never been met in the years since.

OSSM is the product of a unique and bold vision; a school ensuring a one-of-a-kind learning experience for some of Oklahoma's most gifted young people. Its impact statewide is significant. More that 60 percent of the school's students have hailed from Oklahoma towns with populations of fewer than 10,000. More than 60 percent of OSSM graduates go on to Oklahoma colleges and universities, while those who opt to go out of state attend such prestigious universities as Harvard, Yale, Stanford and West Point. Teachers statewide continue to benefit from OSSM, as the school's periodic workshops and seminars focus on strengthening science and math instruction.

Now legislators have the opportunity to fulfill the state's promise to OSSM, but time is quickly running out. School officials have raised $4.2 million, but the dormitory cannot be completed without $3 million from the Legislature.

In nearly every conceivable way, the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics has surpassed expectations. Additional housing would enable more young people in our great state to take advantage of OSSM's first-rate education, but that hinges on whether lawmakers this session will finally meet the expectations of a promise made many years ago.

Little, of Madill, is chairman of the board of trustee for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.