Department U.S. of Education Grant Performance Report (ED 524B) Executive Summary
OMB No. 1890 - 0004 Expiration: 10-31-2007 PR/Award #: P336B040052
Quality Educator Development; Year #3 Status Report Executive Summary Improving the quality of LAUSD mathematics and science teachers in partnership with the school district and the SCALE partnership continues to be the strongest component of direct impact on teacher quality in the QED project. To date over 500 math and science teachers have participated in intensive institutes where both their content knowledge and their teaching strategies have been significantly improved (based on follow up studies and reports of their site administrators). This is particularly important in a district that has faced an acute shortage of well-qualified teachers in these critical areas and has had to hire many teachers with minimal math and science content knowledge over the past decade. The summer institutes also provide an important recruitment opportunity for the masters programs in mathematics education and science curriculum leadership. Objective #1: Improve undergraduate curriculum and instruction for mathematics and science teacher candidates by lowering structural barriers and providing social support for undergraduate math and science teacher candidates. Specific strategies include: Aligning curricula for Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science and Physics to California standards as indicated by approval by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (STATUS: met in summer 2007) Recruiting freshmen at CSUDH and CC transfer students will enroll in math science education program (STATUS: ahead of plan) Secondary math credential candidates supported in early field experiences situated in site-based 7-12 school activities (STATUS: ahead of plan) The science program developed by the grant was approved by CSUDH's curriculum process and was able to enroll three students in the spring semester - ahead of its anticipation implementation in the fall of 2007. The program coordinator has been an active participant in the summer institutes and their follow up seminars and is also connecting with the district's science advisors in a strong recruitment campaign. Substantial progress has been made in developing the undergraduate science education programs, which did not exist at CSUDH prior to the grant. The process of preparing documents for state approval has proven more difficult than anticipated due in part to the lack of existing expertise by current university faculty in preparing the state application. In addition, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) imposed a new set of curriculum standards that are characterized by a 43-page matrix requiring programs to link every state standard to a specific activity in a specific undergraduate course. A consultant has been engaged to work with the faculty and the results have been dramatic. The chemistry document has been completed and
will be submitted to the Commission in early June 2007. The biology document is expected to be completed by the end of June 2007 and the documents for Physics and Earth and Planetary Science are expected to be completed during the fall of 2007. These documents must then be reviewed by CCTC (which usually takes several months) but once the curricula are in place we can begin recruiting undergraduates in to the science education course sequences. This is a critical part of the institutionalization process since the programs will remain in place and be funded by student enrollment once the grant period has expired. There are encouraging signs with regard to the challenge of recruiting and retaining math and science teacher candidates at the freshman and transfer levels. Curriculum approval discussed in the previous paragraph is critical to this effort, particularly in the sciences. The project has identified and contacted over 100 undergraduates who are being advised, monitored for academic progress and supported by project activities. Two faculty members, one in education and one in mathematics been have organizing support activities for the QED cohorts including a web based community and meetings per semester where information on pathways to teaching is provided along with social activities to build cohesion. Objective #2: Improve Post-Baccalaureate and Masters' Professional Education and Professional Development in Science and Mathematics Adapt alternative credential program to support infrastructure and secondary math and science teacher and principal professional development (target date is Fall 2007) Train district math and science teachers/field supervisors in content and coaching techniques to prepare science & math lead teachers. (STATUS: ahead of plan) Design and implement science curriculum and instruction masters degree programs for veteran teacher coaches (STATUS: behind plan in science; on plan in math) Develop and deliver professional development program for math and science CSUDH faculty (STATUS: ahead of plan) Since the last annual report, training of LAUSD math and science teachers/field supervisors in content and coaching techniques has been occurring in two more cohorts. Cohort 2 training began during Spring 2006, summer institutes in summer 2006, fall 2006 follow-up leadership institutes and a new cycle of facilitators were trained over four two-day sessions in Spring 2007 (see Appendix 2.3 for evaluation results of the first two training sessions). The aim is for teachers/field supervisors to be enrolled in summer institutes with mid-year follow-up sessions (30 math and 30 science annually is target). This effort builds upon the learnings from the first set of Summer 2005 Math and Science Institutes, which were well rated and continued by 222 participants in summer 2006 and 299 in summer 2007. Summer 2006 added workshops for Grade 4 and Summer 2007 will expand further with Grades 5 and Kindergarten workshops and high school biology. Three three-week summer math institutes for 60 LAUSD middle school and Algebra teachers of English language learners has been set for July 16 August 3 at CSUDH. Designed and facilitated by a CSUDH College of Education (COE) faculty member who is well published in the area of faculty development (Dr. Susan Johnston), science and math education faculty have been participating in a year-long course Objective #3: Strengthen and Expand the Partnership for Scale-up and Stability 3.1: Establish and expand strong partnerships (STATUS: ahead of plan)
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