| Overview
Title II, Part B, of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 authorizes a Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) competitive grant program. The intent of this program is to encourage institutions of higher education, school divisions, elementary schools, and secondary schools to participate in professional development activities that increase the subject matter knowledge and teaching skills of mathematics and science teachers. Core partners in these grants must include the mathematics, science and/or engineering department of an institution of higher education and a high-needs school division. Partners may also include other school divisions, institutions of higher education, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Proposals that serve NGA Honor Schools and their feeder schools will receive priority during the evaluation process.
The MSP grants will be awarded to support successful proposals that will provide programs and resources to offer high-quality professional development for (1) middle grades (4-8) mathematics and science teachers in priority schools, and (2) high school mathematics and science teachers in priority schools.
For high schools, the Virginia Department of Education 2005-2006 MSP program will award three grants each in mathematics and science, at approximately $175,000 per grant, to deliver programs that meet the program objectives. Grant proposals that include both a mathematics and science component will be funded accordingly.
At the MSP bidders conference on October 7, 2005, the names of Virginia National Governors Association Honor Schools and their feeder middle schools were shared with representatives of higher education, businesses, and nonprofit organizations who were interested in submitting proposals. Bidders were informed that these schools were considered priority schools and should be considered for inclusion in regional projects. If you have not been contacted and are interested in pursuing a partnership proposal, please contact Eric Rhoades (Eric.Rhoades@doe.virginia.gov), science coordinator, at (804) 225-2676. |
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Focus Areas:
High School Mathematics
The MSP partnership should develop high-quality, content- specific, professional development for teachers to develop mastery of advanced algebra and geometry content that supports the Standards of Learning.
The MSP proposal may address more than one discipline area, which should be based on the needs of the partnering school(s). The teachers participating in the program are expected to receive courses encompassing topics in:
- Algebra
- Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries
- Number Theory
- Mathematical Analysis and differential calculus
- Discrete mathematics
The mathematics courses also must have a significant focus on learning through inquiry. The modeling of this effective instructional practice will provide teachers the opportunity to participate in an inquiry-based class setting.
Professional development offered during the summer and school year are expected to include extensive follow-up that enables teachers to practice with students and reflect on what they have learned. An example of this would include using the Lesson Study* model. The team of teachers (a minimum of three) will implement collaboratively developed, inquiry-based lessons as a part of the Lesson Study throughout the academic year.
High School Science
The MSP partnership should develop high-quality, content-specific, professional development for teachers to develop mastery of SOL-related Earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics content.
The MSP proposals may address more than one discipline area, which should be based on the needs of the partnering school(s). The teachers participating in the program are expected to receive a minimum of three courses from the following menu of content: |
