DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 258
October 10, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Patricia I.
Wright Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Mathematics
and Science Partnership Competitive Grant Program for 2008-2009 |
In
January 2002, the No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 (NCLB) became law. Title
II, Part B, of this legislation 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. Professional development activities must be
sustained, intensive, classroom focused, and aligned with state and local
standards and mathematics and science curricula. These activities must result in a demonstrable
and measurable improvement in student academic achievement in mathematics and
science.
Core
partners in these grants must include mathematics, science, and/or engineering
departments from higher education institutions, including community colleges. An institution and/or organization may
participate in only one partnership per priority area. These partnerships will draw upon the strong
disciplinary expertise of the mathematicians, scientists, and engineering
faculty from higher education institutions to develop professional development
activities that will effect improvements in student outcomes by providing K-12
teachers with strong mathematics and/or science content knowledge. Additional partnerships with businesses
and/or nonprofit organizations will help to provide an emphasis on the
practical application of the mathematics and science content.
The
Virginia Department of Education is responsible for the administration of the
MSP grant program. For the 2008-2009
competition, approximately $1.5 million is available for MSP awards in
1) Algebra, Functions, and Data Analysis
2) Elementary Science
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. December 15, 2008. The deadline for submission of the Intent to
Submit Form is October 20, 2008. A
bidders' meeting will be conducted at the
PIW/PK
Attachments
a. Mathematics and Science Partnership Competitive Grant Program Request for Proposals (Word)