Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Professional Development on Improving Mathematics and Science Instruction (MSP PD Study). Year 2 Progress Report

In fall 2002, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced 24 major grants to establish Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (MSP) programs across the U.S. The overall program objective of these grants is to "increase the capacity of preK-12 educational systems and institutions of higher education to provide the requisites for learning to high standards in mathematics and science, and particularly to reduce the achievement gaps among student populations." One of the specific goals of MSP is "to contribute to the national capacity to engage in large-scale reform through participation in a network of researchers and practitioners, organized through the MSP program, that will study and evaluate educational reform and experimental approaches to the improvement of teacher preparation and professional development (Goal 3, NSF 02-061 program announcement)." The present report summarizes progress after two years of a three-year study under the MSP RETA program. The study is being conducted by a research team comprised of staff from the Council of Chief State School Officers, American Institutes for Research, and Wisconsin Center for Education Research.