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South Dakota Mathematics and Science Grant Application

In this section:

• Federal MSP Project Description

• South Dakota MSP Description

• Project Objectives

• SD Project Rationale

Federal MSP Project Description

The Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) grant program is authorized under Title II, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. The purpose of the program is to fund partnerships of high-need school districts, four-year institutions of higher education (IHEs), and other organizations, to improve the academic achievement of students in mathematics and science in elementary and secondary schools.

The MSP provides grants to partnerships between K-12 schools and higher education institutions through the Department of Education (DOE) that seek to actively boost K-12 achievement in math by improving and upgrading subject area professional development, encouraging and advising teacher training and recruitment, and strengthening challenging subject-area curriculum.  For further information on the Federal MSP program: http://www.ed.gov/programs/mathsci/resources.html

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South Dakota MSP Description

The primary goal of the South Dakota MSP is a focused statewide professional development program designed to build broad-based expertise and leadership for improving student achievement in elementary mathematics instruction. This program will develop a statewide educational community with a cadre of skilled professionals to serve as resources and trainers in the ongoing effort to improve elementary mathematics instruction.

The K-5 mathematics professional development project for this RFP utilizes research based strategies which have been evidenced to be effective with students of diverse backgrounds. It is the intent of this grant that participating teachers complete all components of the training to effectively impact mathematics instruction. Common assessment tools will be utilized across all projects to assist the state in evaluating and providing feedback on the overall state level project as well as ensure a means to conduct research around all awarded projects. 

Each funded project will have the following:

One Math Specialist: The Math Specialists duties are to:

• Collaborate with SDDOE, CAMSE, and TIE to coordinate and deliver professional development components.

• Collect data, data analysis, and reporting of data to SDDOE and external evaluator.

• Attend professional development centered on mathematics content, mathematics pedagogy, student mathematical thinking and educational leadership.

• Support the work of the Elementary Math Teacher Leaders.

Math Teacher Leader: The Math Teacher Leader identified for each elementary building will:

• Attend professional development centered on mathematics content, mathematics pedagogy, student mathematical thinking, and educational leadership.

•  Utilize professional development content in mathematics instruction to impact student achievement in mathematics instruction.

• Upon completion of one year of training, provide training for other interested K-5 teachers within the elementary building.

Elementary Principals: Elementary Principals of participating buildings will:

• Participate in professional development developed to help administrators, as instructional leaders in their schools, to understand and support effective mathematics instruction.

• Support participating staff in the implementation of grant activities.

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Project Objectives

During the next three years, SD MSP Program will:

• Increase student academic achievement as measured by the state mathematics standards.

• Train and place one Mathematics Specialist in up to 9 different sites in South Dakota.

• Provide training for one Mathematics Teacher Leader for potentially each elementary building in South Dakota.

• Support work in each participating district to train additional interested K-5 teachers.

• Conduct training for building principals to support the work of the mathematics teacher.

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SD Project Rationale

The research is clear that a skilled teacher is the most important factor in improving student learning.  The SD MSP project is designed to deepen and broaden teachers’ knowledge base about mathematics content, mathematics pedagogy, and student mathematical thinking.  This project will provide teachers an opportunity to experience “best practices” in teaching mathematics.  This will include constructivist instructional practices that promote mathematical reasoning, discourse, inquiry, and conceptual understanding for all students.  In order to answer the question of why do we need an elementary math initiative National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and Dakota State Test of Educational Progress (Dakota STEP) data was analyzed at the fourth grade level by the Math Advisory Committee. (A complete list of the Math Advisory Committee members is located on the SDDOE website.)

Current NAEP and Dakota STEP data supports the need for a math initiative in the state of South Dakota that targets instructional strategies that work with all students including those of low socioeconomic status and Native America students.  Although students of low socioeconomic status and Native American students both have made gains in achieving the proficient or advanced levels on the NAEP test they are still far behind the state average in growth as evidenced by NAEP and Dakota STEP.  The data also shows a significant gap between those students eligible for free and reduced meals compared to non-eligible students.

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