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>>> Outreach NewsEAST ALABAMA PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE MATH EDUCATION CREATEDSchool systems in six cities and six counties along with Auburn and Tuskegee Universities unite to improve math education in east-central Alabama. |
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AUBURN — Mathematics achievement in Alabama lags far behind the rest of the nation, and schools in east-central Alabama scored lower than the rest of the state. To address the situation, the East Alabama Partnership for the Improvement of Mathematics Education has been formed. The initiative is directed toward all grades, K-12. The cities included in the partnership are Alexander City, Auburn, Lanett, Opelika, Phenix City and Tallassee. County systems include Chambers, Elmore, Lee, Macon, Russell and Tallapoosa. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama is also among the partners. A kick-off meeting will be held April 23 in Phenix City. Gary Martin, associate professor of curriculum and teaching in AU's College of Education, is one of the project's leaders. "Mathematics achievement in Alabama as a whole is very low on the National Assessment of Educational Progress," said Martin. "And the scores in this area are somewhat below the state average, although there is obviously some variation among the districts involved." At the fourth grade level, Alabama ranked 35th out of 40 states. At the eighth grade level, the state again ranked 35th out of 39 states. States participate on an optional basis, said Martin, noting that not all states choose to participate. "The genesis of our partnership is that there is a window of opportunity being created by the state curriculum cycle, in which local districts will have to adapt their curriculum to fit the new mathematics course of study," said Martin, adding, "This will be followed by text book adoptions next year." Additionally, said Martin, federal legislation (No Child Left Behind Act) is "pushing districts to increase achievement and narrow gaps" that may exist in subpopulations which include minority students and those from a lower socio-economic status. "We are trying to catch that wave to initiate reform in this area," said Martin, who added that while initiatives in reading and science improvement have been created, "Math reform has been largely dormant in this area of the state. The short-term goals of the partnership include building the infrastructure needed to support the long-term, systemic improvement of mathematics education and to take actions that can have an immediate impact on mathematics education. Long-term goals include improving mathematics achievement across the partnership and increasing the content and pedagogical knowledge of teachers, including improving the initial preparation of teachers. Martin notes that this is a "unique partnership" in that the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) is more strongly represented than the College of Education. "My colleagues in education, here and across the country, are envious of the commitment of these individuals, as well as COSAM, to working with K-12 education," said Martin. Other AU faculty members include Marilyn Strutchens and Betty Senger from the Department of Curriculum and Teaching; Phil Zenor, Stephen Stuckwisch, Michel Smith and Overtoun Jenda from the Department of Mathematics; Chris Rodger from Discrete Mathematics. Two mathematicians and two education faculty from Tuskegee University are also involved. Stewart Schneller, dean of COSAM, gives an explanation for the heavy involvement of AU mathematicians. "The College of Sciences and Mathematics considers its mission to be much broader than undergraduate and graduate education," said Schneller. "In that regard, we look for ways to work with the College of Education to improve the educational experience for the K-12 student and the teacher. It is with that in mind that we jumped at the opportunity to work with Dr. Martin and his colleagues." Initial funding for the initiative is being provided by Auburn University Outreach, COSAM and the College of Education. # # # about this topic .
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