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No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
Public Law 107-110

Title II, Part B, Mathematics and Science Partnerships
Elementary Level Mathematics Grant

The Maine Department of Education recently funded five Math and Science Partnership (MSP) grants to five educational organizations. One of the stipulations of the grant was that the partnership be between local school districts and institutions of higher education’s science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) faculty.

The Saco/Dayton School Departments (Union #7) partnered with the University of New England, MSAD #6 and Biddeford School Department to apply for the Title IIA grant. The Saco School Department was informed that the collaborative proposal for the Elementary Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant entitled “Connecting US to Strengthen K-6 Mathematics Content and Pedagogy: A University/School Partnership“, was approved for funding for the amount of $108,000.

The focus of these monies is to support high quality professional development for Maine’s teachers. The Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) projects are intended to enhance the capacity of local teachers to enact curricula reforms that produce higher student achievement in mathematics and science.

The partners of this grant submitted long-term plans that include multi-week institutes coupled with support over a sustained period of time. This model includes the Union #7 Summer Institute with follow-up training to support classroom implementation of math. Each of the partners will meet during the school year and share resources and expertise. Teacher workshops, Dine and Discuss meetings, mentoring and laboratory classrooms are part of the professional development activities designed for the teachers. Univerity of New England will provide distance learning programs using curricula that are innovative, content-based, and established with scientifically based research.

Ongoing opportunities for enhanced professional development of mathematics that improves the subject matter knowledge and promotes strong teaching skills is a necessity. The design of professional development will center on content knowledge, the principles of effective instruction and student learning, a commitment of time and resources for implementing development over an extended period of time, and the employment of professional development styles that engage teachers collaboratively rather than focusing on them as individuals. One goal for the Mathematics and Science Partnership program consist of the following: To provide activities that are supported by scientifically based research and designed to deepen mathematics teachers’ content knowledge and knowledge of how students learn particular content,