Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition
Updated May 2010

Since 2004, the National Science Foundation has supported a rigorous research and policy study incorporating Mathematics Specialist preparation programs and randomly selected treatment and control elementary (K-5) schools (NSF grants ESI -0353360 and EHR-0412324). Grant-supported trained specialists were placed in the treatment schools as on-site coaches to determine the effectiveness of a school-based Mathematics Specialists program. Grant findings are that over time Mathematics Specialists help classroom teachers develop more effective teaching practices that positively affect student learning and achievement.

Mathematics Specialists are having a significant impact on student achievement

• - The increase in scores for third-grade students in schools with a trained Mathematics Specialist was on average of nearly 10 points higher on Virginia’s Standards of Learning mathematics tests during the specialist’s second year, and over 16 points higher during the specialist’s third year.
  
  
• - The increase in scores for fourth-grade students in schools with a trained Mathematics Specialist averaged a statistically significant 15 points higher on Virginia’s Standards of Learning mathematics tests during the specialist’s second year, and over 13 points higher during the specialist’s third year.
  
  
• - The increase in scores for fifth-grade students in schools with a trained Mathematics Specialist was also statistically significant, an average of over 19 points higher on Virginia’s Standards of Learning mathematics tests during the specialist’s second year and over 20 points higher during the specialist’s third year.
  
  
• - Policy leaders and principals in research school divisions had unanimous confidence in the in-school coaching model, and all were eager to implement it in all elementary and middle schools.
  
  

Virginia’s preparation program for Mathematics Specialists is of high quality

Mathematics Specialist master’s degree programs are offered collaboratively at six Virginia universities (program enrollment of 250 in 2009-10). Also, the Virginia Board of Education approved a K-8 math specialist endorsement as part of its rigorous licensure standards that reinforces the worth of well-prepared Mathematics Specialists. Currently, it is estimated that local school divisions in Virginia employ 250 school-based individuals as elementary or middle school Mathematics Specialists.

• -Mathematics Specialists engaged in rigorous professional coursework on math content, pedagogy and coaching classroom teachers, prior to and during their first year of placement in the grant schools.
  
  
• - Mathematics Specialists knew significantly more mathematics after completing the program, as measured by a nationally developed and validated pre/post test.
  
  
• - Mathematics Specialists transferred knowledge learned in their preparation programs to their work with classroom teachers and students, as shown by the grant’s case studies.
  
  
• -Mathematics Specialists’ impact on student achievement increased as they gained experience and as collaboration with school instructional and administrative staff grew.
  
  

For further information contact Professor William Haver, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Mathematics, wehaver@vcu.edu, 804-828-1302 ; and visit the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition website http://www.vamsc.org/.