The Transition Math Project continues to make strides and draw statewide interest. In fact, the increasing relevance of the topic and a wellspring of new ideas for TMP-sponsored events necessitated asking for a short project extension from the Gates Foundation, which was granted. Now, the official end of our grant period is March 31, 2006. This November alone boasts four significant TMP undertakings: the Math Placement Summit (11/16), Business & Industry Math Examples Working Session (11/3), Standards Refinement Meeting (11/3-4) and a qualitative, external evaluation of TMP Phase I activities. For a complete list of activities, visit the TMP calendar page. Here are a few additional updates.
TMP Phase II: Looking Ahead and Building on the Past
TMP is presently in the process of shoring up support and generating interest for a second round of activities. A phase II work plan is being created to build on the work (and network) initiated and developed over the past 18 months. A loose coalition of several active local/regional cross-sector partnerships have already expressed interest and are meeting regularly to assess needs and draft initial plans. This phase II effort would be designed to build on the initial work of TMP, focusing primarily on curricular and pedagogical issues, and to continue emphasizing K-12/higher education collaboration as central to the work. Our notion is that there be flexibility for the local partnerships to take approaches to implementing the 11/12 GLEs and College Readiness Standards that are customized to meet local/regional needs and built upon local/regional strengths or existing work. If interested, contact John House, TMP Coordinator, to learn more.
The Math Placement Summit Fills Up in Record Time
From the earliest TMP meetings and events to the present, math placement has been one of the most frequently cited topics needing in-depth discussion and cross-sector review. This interest was confirmed as the Math Placement Summit, scheduled for November 16, filled in record time, with a record number of participants to boot. This one day gathering of key stakeholders and experts will focus on surfacing key postsecondary placement and diagnostic assessment issues. Specifically, attendees will identify emerging concerns and promising work with respect to placement assessment in aligning K-12 and college expectations of student readiness for mathematics courses in Washington higher education. Representatives from the University of Washington, Achieve, Inc, ACT, ETS, California's Mathematics Diagnostic Testing and Early Assessment Projects and a host of others will be on hand to add to the rich discussions. An agenda and other Summit details are now available on the TMP website.
A core group of 15-20 TMP partners, led by Bill Moore, plan to assemble from November 3-4 at the Rainbow Lodge Retreat Center in North Bend, WA. The group's charge: to finalize the language of the College Readiness Standards document, including completing work on the additional expectations section for pre-calculus and calculus. The retreat will be co-located with a gathering of two-year college faculty as part of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges’ ongoing College Readiness effort; the latter meeting will be focused in part on implications of the TMP work on the developmental education (pre-college courses) curriculum in Washington two-year colleges. The two days promise to be productive and enlightening for all!
Eastern Washington University recently hosted a TMP Demonstration Project Summit facilitated by TMP Director Bill Moore and K-12 partner Katy Absten. The event included a mix of math instructors from all sectors. Participants spent two-plus intense days beginning the longer-term process of aligning the region's various curricula - at all levels (high schools, CTCs and EWU) - with TMP's College Readiness Standards and new draft 11/12 GLEs. Participants left the retreat with an appreciation for the similarities and differences among the math curricula at the various institutions represented, and definitely motivated to continue their cross-sector math improvement efforts. To track the Spokane region's efforts, refer to the demo section of the TMP website.
For the second year in a row, TMP and its cross-sector partners hit the road to meet with over 1000 of the state's school counselors as part of the Fall Counselor Workshop Series. The workshops provide an ideal opportunity to exchange information, get answers and discuss top concerns. TMP staff were pleased to see the increased number of counselors familiar with TMP and the College Readiness Standards. The Why Math? flier was found to be an especially helpful tool for students, according to counselors. For more on Why Math?, visit TMP's online Toolkit of resources.
TMP staff and representatives continue to meet with various key groups, including legislators, to share project progress and impact to date. During a September 15th Senate Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education Committee Work Session, TMP received an early vote of confidence from Tom Vander Ark, Executive Director, Gates Foundation Education Initiatives. During a discussion with senators on improving education in Washington, Mr. Vander Ark suggested the Committee "take advantage of the Transition Math Project, which has been very promising". He further outlined ideas for a "phase II" of TMP that reflected an emphasis on implementation. Needless to say, TMP is encouraged in our efforts to continue our work in the state. More information one TMP's phase II planning will be coming this November (see related article, TMP Phase II: Looking Ahead and Building on the Past for additional information). On a separate but related front, TMP has been featured prominently in the work of Washington Learns, Governor Gregoire’s broad study of Washington’s education system, from early learning through higher education, and is likely to be recognized in the group’s recommendations as a project that needs to be sustained and supported. (For more details, see the link to their September 14th subcommittee meeting materials).
As part of its charge, TMP is supporting regions and teams in their efforts to pursue funding focused on strengthening standards-based mathematics pedagogy and curriculum development. One such opportunity has been the OSPI-managed Math / Science Partnership (MSP) grant. An MSP RFP is now out and can be located on the OSPI site. In addition to the MSP, TMP is exploring a number of exciting grant opportunities that will allow for the kind of in-depth cross-sector professional development experiences teachers and faculty have expressed strong interest in. Schools, districts and regions interested in beginning cross-sector, regional efforts to secure funding to support professional development opportunities can contact TMP Coordinator John House for assistance at jhouse@highline.edu.
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