The Appalachian Mathematics and Science Partnership (AMSP) is a partnership
among 38 central and eastern Kentucky school districts (Bath Co., Breathitt
Co., Carter Co., Casey Co., Clark Co., Clay Co., Clinton Co., Corbin Independent,
Estill Co., Floyd Co., Frankfort Independent, Garrard Co., Harlan Co.,
Jackson Independent, Jessamine Co., Johnson Co., Knott Co., Lee Co., Letcher
Co., Lewis Co., Lincoln Co., Madison Co., Martin Co., McCreary Co., Montgomery
Co., Morgan Co., Owsley Co, Paris Independent, Pike Co., Pikeville Independent,
Powell Co., Pulaski Co., Rockcastle Co., Rowan Co., Washington Co., Wayne
Co., Whitley Co., Woodford Co.), 9 Tennessee school districts (Alvin C.
York Agricultural Institute, Anderson Co., Campbell Co., Cumberland Co.,
Grainger Co., Harriman City, Johnson Co., Oneida Special School, Scott
Co.), 5 western Virginia school districts ,(Dickenson Co., Russell Co.,
Scott Co., Tazewell Co., Wise Co.), the Kentucky Science and Technology
Corporation (Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative), and 10 institutions
of higher education, including Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky State
University, Morehead State University, Pikeville College, Union College,
University of Virginia College at Wise, University of Tennessee, Prestonsburg
Community College, Somerset Community College, and the University of Kentucky,
with the latter serving as the lead organization.
Student achievement
for the almost 170,000 students in the partner districts is significantly
lower than state averages. The Appalachian regions of the three states
are characterized by low socio-economic status (income rates are 62-81%
of national averages) with over one-third of children living in poverty.
In addition, attracting and maintaining a staff of highly qualified mathematics
and science teachers in the Appalachian region is a major challenge.
Within the partner school districts, 38% of the mathematics teachers and
37% of the science teachers at the middle and high school levels are teaching
with a minor or less in mathematics. Simultaneously, the number of individuals
graduating with teacher certification in mathematics or science from the
partner higher education students is extremely low.
This Partnership
will reform science, mathematics and technology (MST) education in central
Appalachia in order to eliminate the "achievement gap" in MST for regional
preK-12 students and to build an integrated PreK-12 and higher education
system to insure the selection, development and career-long support of
a diverse and high quality mathematics and science teacher workforce.
AMSP
involves four components to address the needs of the region: (1) Preservice
teacher and administrator education; (2) Professional development of preK-12
personnel; (3) Student learning opportunities including parent/community
engagement; and (4) Research to advance the understanding of rural education
reform.
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