The New Jersey Math and Science Partnership (NJ-MSP) unites Rutgers, Rowan
and Kean Universities with twelve school districts. Eight of the districts
were among thirty plaintiffs in New Jersey's 20-year-long Abbott vs. Burke
litigation, and have recently benefited from remedies ordered by the state
Supreme Court. The twelve districts that come together within NJ-MSP
are characterized as small- and medium-sized urban districts with poor,
high-minority and low achieving student populations. The partners' schools
enroll over 75,000 students of whom 27% are African American and 31% are
Hispanic.
The goals of NJ-MSP are to:
1. Increase achievement and
reduce achievement gaps in science and mathematics for all preK-12 students
in partner school districts by (a) working to develop and implement strategic
plans for each district; (b) working to develop internal leadership structures
and practices to carry out the strategic plans; and (c) providing well-designed,
continuing professional development.
2. Increase and sustain the number,
quality and diversity of preK-12 teachers of mathematics and science in
partner school districts by (a) providing potential teachers with experiences
that will help them see teaching as an attractive career; (b) improving
preservice teachers' content knowledge by reshaping university math and
science courses; and (c) carrying out induction programs for new middle
and high school teachers.
3. Document outcomes by (a) analyzing changes
in student achievement and (b) documenting project activities.
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