The vision of the SCALE partnership is to make it the rule, instead of the exception, for every student, every year, to experience high-quality teaching of core mathematics and science concepts. The partnership brings together mathematicians, scientists, engineers, social scientists, and education practitioners to build a whole new approach to reforming K-12 mathematics and science education. The partnership seeks to improve the mathematics and science achievement of all students at all grade levels in the four partner school districts by engaging them in deep and authentic science and mathematics instructional experiences. Simultaneously, the partnership seeks to improve pre-service and in-service mathematics and science professional learning. Finally, the partnership seeks to improve models of collaboration between K-12 and post-secondary institutions in the service of mathematics and science education for all. The partnership is documenting what works and why and will provide information about how to construct such a partnership to a wide audience of policymakers and university and school leaders.
The "partnership" refers to all SCALE partners acting collectively in SCALE activities. The "partners" are the specific institutions within the partnership--the Denver Public Schools, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Madison Metropolitan School District, the Providence (RI) Public Schools, California State University Dominguez Hills, California State University Northridge, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. SCALE goals aim for designated changes in all the institutions mentioned, as catalyzed by the SCALE partnership.
Over the five years of the project, SCALE's overall goal is to develop, implement, and assess the efficacy of educational processes that enhance K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and thereby to generate improved student achievement, especially for students from minority and low-income families and for those students who are not native English speakers. We are accomplishing this goal by creating our partnership among universities and urban school districts in different parts of the country.
