COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 188

September 24, 2004

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Mathematics and Science Partnership Competitive Grant Program for 2004-2005

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 or science department of an institution of higher education and a high-need school division. Partners may also include other school divisions, institutions of higher education, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

The Virginia Department of Education is responsible for the administration of this program. For the 2004-2005 competition, approximately $1.8 million is available for MSP awards in Virginia. These will be awarded to support successful proposals that will provide programs and resources to increase (1) the number of highly qualified mathematics teachers in middle schools, with particular emphasis on sixth and seventh grades, and/or (2) the number of fully endorsed Earth Science teachers.

For mathematics, the MSP program will award one or two regional consortia up to $400,000 each to deliver programs meeting the specified objectives. Proposals for larger awards will be considered if the proposals (1) are structured as a statewide consortium, (2) represent multiple collaborating institutes of higher education, (3) focus on multiple high-need school divisions and serve a significant number of teachers from schools Accredited with Warning.

For Earth Science, the MSP program will award one to five consortia up to $200,000 each to deliver programs meeting the program objectives. Proposals for larger awards will be considered if the proposals (1) are structured in a large regional or statewide consortium, (2) represent multiple collaborating institutes of higher education, (3) focus on multiple high-need school divisions and serve a significant number of teachers from schools Accredited with Warning.

The Request for Proposals is attached to this memorandum. Completed proposals must be received by the Virginia Department of Education no later than 4 p.m. on December 10, 2004. A bidders meeting will be conducted at the James Monroe Building in Richmond on October 8, 2004. For additional information, please contact James C. Firebaugh (jfirebau@mail.vak12ed.edu), director, Office of Middle Instructional Services, at (804) 225-2651.

JLD/JCF/yba

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2004/inf188a.doc