News Release
For Immediate Release March 31, 2010
Contact: Charles Pyle, Director of Communications (804) 371-2420
Julie C. Grimes, Communications Manager, (804) 225-2775
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is awarding Mathematics and Science Partnership grants totaling $3.4 million to a dozen regional programs designed to improve instruction by increasing the content knowledge of mathematics teachers and sharpening their classroom skills.
"Command of content is a prerequisite for effective instruction," Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said. "These grants will support regional efforts to prepare teachers to implement the revised mathematics standards approved by the Board of Education last year."
In announcing the grant competition last July, VDOE requested proposals for the creation of regional centers to provide sustained, intensive and classroom-focused professional development aligned with the 2009 Mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL). Applicants were required to enlist the mathematics department of at least one college or university as a partner. The funded projects, lead partners and participating school divisions are as follows:
Grades K-3
- Center for Excellence in Mathematics Professional Learning and Coaching in Northern Virginia for Grades K-3 – George Mason University and six school divisions: Alexandria, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun County, Manassas and Prince William County
- Collaborative for Math Professional Development: Teaching the 2009 K-3 Mathematics SOL in Southern Virginia – Longwood University and 16 school divisions: Appomattox County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Danville, Dinwiddie County, Halifax County, Henry County, Hopewell, Lunenburg County, Mecklenburg County, Nottoway County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, Prince Edward County and Sussex County
- Developing Specialized Content Knowledge for Teachers of Mathematics in Grades K-3 – James Madison University (JMU) and six school divisions: Augusta County, Harrisonburg, Page County, Rockingham County, Staunton and Waynesboro
Grades 4-6
- Emory & Henry Regional Mathematics Professional Development Center – Emory & Henry College and 19 school divisions: Bland County, Bristol, Buchanan County, Carroll County, Dickenson County, Galax, Giles County, Grayson County, Lee County, Norton, Pulaski County, Radford, Russell County, Scott County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, Washington County, Wise County and Wythe County
- Process Standards Approach to Build Bridges from Arithmetic to Algebraic Thinking, Grades 4-6 – University of Virginia (UVA) and 13 school divisions: Albemarle County, Arlington County, Bedford County, Campbell County, Charlottesville, Culpeper County, Fauquier County, Fluvanna County, Frederick County, Gloucester County, Loudoun County, Spotsylvania County, and Stafford County
- Developing Specialized Content Knowledge for Teachers of Mathematics in Grades 4-6 – JMU and six school divisions: Augusta County, Harrisonburg, Page County, Rockingham County, Staunton and Waynesboro
- Collaborative for Math Professional Development: Teaching the 2009 Grades 4-6 Mathematics SOL in Southern Virginia – Longwood University’s Institute for Teaching through Technology & Innovative Practices and 15 school divisions: Appomattox County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Danville, Dinwiddie County, Henry County, Hopewell, Lunenburg County, Mecklenburg County, Nottoway County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, Prince Edward County and Sussex County
Grades 7-8
- Collaborative for Math Professional Development: Teaching the 2009 Grades 7-8 Mathematics SOL in Southside Virginia – Longwood University, The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and nine school divisions: Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Danville, Henry County, Lunenburg County, Mecklenburg County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County and Prince Edward County
- Center for Excellence in Mathematics Professional Learning and Coaching in Northern Virginia for Grades 7-8: Fostering Algebra Connections through Critical Thinking Skills (FACTS) in Rational Numbers & Proportional Reasoning – George Mason University and six school divisions: Alexandria, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun County, Manassas and Prince William County
- Tidewater Team Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Center – College of William & Mary and 26 school divisions: Brunswick County, Charles City County, Dinwiddie County, Franklin, Gloucester County, Hampton, Hopewell, Isle of Wight County, King and Queen County, King William County, Lancaster County, Mathews County, Middlesex County, New Kent County, Newport News, Norfolk, Northumberland County, Poquoson, Richmond County, Southampton County, Suffolk County, Surry County, Sussex County, West Point, Williamsburg-James City County and York County
High School
- Southwest and Southside Virginia Secondary Mathematics Professional Development Center – Radford University and 14 divisions: Craig County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Giles County, Grayson County, Martinsville, Montgomery County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, Pulaski County, Radford, Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem
- 21st-Century Teaching Leads to 21st-Century Learning: Functions Algebra Project – UVA and 16 school divisions: Albemarle County, Alexandria, Arlington County, Campbell County, Charlottesville, Culpeper County, Fauquier County, Fluvanna County, Frederick County, Gloucester County, Loudoun County, Page County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Staunton and Westmoreland County
The funded regional centers are required to offer professional development programs – beginning this summer – that are research based and designed to produce measurable growth in student achievement in mathematics.
Mathematics and Science Partnership grants are authorized by Title II, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (also known as No Child Left Behind). The grant program is designed to improve instruction by encouraging partnerships between institutions of higher education and school divisions to provide opportunities for mathematics and science teachers to increase subject matter knowledge and improve classroom skills.
During the last five years, the Mathematics and Science Partnership program has provided approximately $14 million in support of mathematics and science professional development for Virginia teachers.
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