MSP Goals

MSP serves students and educators by emphasizing strong partnerships that tackle local needs and build grassroots support to:

• Enhance schools’ capacity to provide challenging curricula for all students and encourage more students to succeed in advanced courses in mathematics and the sciences;
• Increase the number, quality and diversity of mathematics and science teachers, especially in underserved areas;
• Engage and support scientists, mathematicians, and engineers at local universities and local industries to work with K-12 educators and students;
• Contribute to a greater understanding of how students effectively learn mathematics and science and how teacher preparation and professional development can be improved; and
• Promote institutional and organizational change in education systems — from kindergarten through graduate school — to sustain partnerships’ promising practices and policies.

MSP Structure and Composition

Four components make up the MSP program.

• Comprehensive Partnerships implement change across the K-12 continuum in mathematics, science, or both.
• Targeted Partnerships focus on improved student achievement in a narrower grade range or disciplinary focus in mathematics and/or science.
• Institute Partnerships develop mathematics and science teachers as school- and district-based intellectual leaders and master teachers.
• Research, Evaluation, and Technical Assistance (RETA) activities assist partnership awardees in the implementation and evaluation of their work.