Building Learning Communities for Mathematics and Science Literacy

The following profile presents a sketch of the bredth and depth of programming offered by the Detroit Mathematics and Science Centers, as well as a picture of the participants.

Citywide High School and Middle School Mathematics and Science Curriculum Leaders Meetings - High school mathematics curriculum leaders and high school science curriculum leaders met for ten monthly sessions to inform administrators about strategies to increase student achievement and teacher effectiveness. Analysis of Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), Essential Skills Attainment Tests (ESAT) and Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT) scores and how to use score reports to further improve efforts were discussed. Middle school mathematics and science curriculum leaders also met monthly as a group to develop capacity as change agents and to provide follow-up to professional development sessions. Curriculum leaders function as department heads and provide curricular and instructional leadership for department teachers.

Articulation - Administrators and teachers planned and conducted meetings with the elementary schools, middle schools, and high school within each of the twenty constellations. Schools were encouraged to dialogue and work together with the mathematics and science teachers in their constellations so there would be collaborative activities for students and teachers and continuity in students' course work.

Detroit Urban Systemic Program (DUSP) - DPS has successfully competed for a second five (5) year National Science Foundation (NSF) grant commencing fall 1999 to advance significantly the science, mathematics and technology (SMT) education of all students. The total award over the funding periods is $26,749,978. The DUSP grant is designed to help the district implement standards-based, inquiry-centered science and mathematics, increase the competency and diversity of the workforce, promote collaborations with college and universities that have teacher education programs, and increase the number of skilled people entering the technology-based workforce. In addition, the plan calls for a major research study into the extent to which students develop a deeper understanding of critical concepts of science, based on the use of technology. Results will provide an opportunity to move from continual experimentation to research on practice.

The Leadership Team

The Mathematics and Science Centers are under the leadership of
Juanita Clay Chambers, Ed.D., Chief, Department of Curriculum Development and Related Programs.
Kay Royster, Ed.D., is the Chief Academic Officer and
Other key administrators include the directors and supervisors in the Offices of Mathematics and Science.

	Juanita Clay Chambers, Ed.D., Chief, Department of Curriculum Development and Related Programs provides direction for the work of the Mathematics and Science Centers and the Detroit Urban Systemic Program (DUSP).
	Kay Royster, Ed.D., Chief Academic Officer leads the Division of Learning and Educational Accountability which includes curriculum and instruction and the management of the schools.

Center for Learning Technologies in Urban Schools (LeTUS) - The focus of the LeTUS program is the creation of embedded computing and communications technologies into the existing standards-based curriculum at the middle school level. The program is conducted in partnership with the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Chicago Public Schools and Detroit Public Schools.

	Dr. Kenneth Burnley, CEO, Detroit Public Schools, visits Farwell Middle School to observe LeTUS students using Palms to gather data for the 'Cooties' game of germ detection.
Dr. Elliot Soloway, a University of Michigan professor of enginnering, education and information discusses uses for the Palm in the LeTUS Program with local media.
	Alicia Meriweather's 8th grade students at Farwell Middle School use the Palm to study the spread of communicable diseases.