Collaboration aims to increase learning
SPOKANE – Earlier this year Spokane’s largest public educational institutions joined forces in the form of a Riverpoint Math and Science Partnership, co-chaired by WSU faculty, to work toward improved student learning in math and science.
With this mission in mind and a $226,000 grant from the Washington State Higher Education Improving Teacher Quality Program, the partners are developing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) of 11th and 12th grade mathematics teachers and math faculty from community colleges and universities.
The PLCs will further the understanding of college readiness standards in mathematics through collaboration, training and professional development.They will identify the fundamental mathematical ideas that underlie the college readiness standards, design and implement relevant professional development for teachers, develop a shared understanding of the standards, and investigate teaching practices to improve student success in meeting these standards.
“As the first funded project of the Riverpoint Partnership for Math and Science, this grant provides a wonderful opportunity for high school teachers and community college and university faculty to work together to improve math education for our students,” said Joan Kingrey, co-chair of the Riverpoint Partnership.
The goal of this project is to increase the number of students who successfully complete 11th and 12th grade mathematics courses, and increase the enrollment of underrepresented students in these courses so that more students will be successful in meeting challenging state standards in math.
Funds for this project were provided by a grant from the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title II, Part A, Subpart 3 Washington State Higher Education Improving Teacher Quality Program, administered by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board.
About the Riverpoint Math and Science Partnership
The first partnership of its kind united in February 2007 when WSU Spokane, Spokane Public Schools, Eastern Washington University, Community Colleges of Spokane, Mead School District, Central Valley School District and Educational Service District 101 joined forces with the goal of helping all students become proficient in math and science, and helping more students enter college with the foundation needed to work toward careers in math, science, engineering and health sciences.
Related Web Links:
Improving Teacher Quality Grants (HECB):
http://www.hecb.wa.gov/Grants/profdev/profdevindex.asp
Riverpoint Math and Science Partnership News:
http://wsunews.wsu.edu/detail.asp?StoryID=6275
