Wed, 21 Jan 2004 05:00:00 -0500
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A National Model for Math and Science Education

A partnership between UMBC, Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), Maryland State Department of Education, and the Achievement Initiative for Maryland�s Minority Students is helping to create a national model for improving pre-K through 12th grade math and science education.

SUPER STEM [School-University Partnership for Excellence in Research-based (SUPER) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)] is funded by a five-year, $13-million grant from the National Science Foundation Math and Science Partnership program, and promises to accelerate student achievement and reduce achievement gaps by enhancing teacher and school effectiveness.

The SUPER STEM project is an extension of UMBC�s successful Urban Teacher Education (UTE) program for schools in Baltimore County. �Our emphasis is on improving teachers� pedagogical content knowledge and diagnosing student understanding of math and science to accelerate student learning and achievement,� says John Lee, founder and director of UTE. �Teachers learn to access and inventory their students� current skills and use that as a foundation for further teaching.�

SUPER STEM will increase the number, quality and diversity of teachers from all disciplines by offering performance-based recruitment incentives to attract high-quality teachers and principals to serve in highest-needs (low-performing and underserved) schools and by providing training and professional development to nearly 2000 existing principles and teachers on designing, implementing and assessing STEM-focused educational practices.

In addition, six technology-mediated STEM academies at high needs pre-K through 12 schools will allow students and their teachers to develop the information technology skills required for the 21st century. The project will also provide year-round schooling to students attending the STEM academies and special projects that extend beyond the school day.

Assessments of the outcomes and effectiveness of SUPER STEM will be conducted at the student, teacher, school and BCPS level, and the findings will be disseminated through various education conferences across the U.S.