perspective so that the kids can see that science is not a 50-minute lab. >> reporter: they are doing it with the share of $500 million awarded to the state from president obama's race to the top initiative and the goal is to better prepare students for the high-tech jobs of tomorrow. >> look at the kids. they are engage and interested in it. and that's the way you close the gap. you have to do it, you know a classroom at a time. >> i think that innovative programs will allow the students to learn in ways that they are most comfortable with. our goal was to provide an exciting way for these students to learn, and to tell the kids that they could achieve. >> reporter: the program is still in the first year, but if the students are any indication, this seems to be a step in the right direction. >> i never really liked science. science is my least concern, and now it is like my second best. >> reporter: reporting for "in america" i'm soledad o'brien, cnn, nashville. that is from soledad