Math for America San Diego A Consortium of Public Schools & Universities in San Diego County

1. Math for America San Diego A Consortium of Public Schools & Universities in San Diego County PRIME Conference - Monterey March 6, 2009 Barbara Edwards, MfA San Diego Chris Reising, San Diego COE

2. TEACHER QUALITY MATTERS “Without fully qualified teachers--and adequate numbers of them-- there is no way for student achievement, statewide, to improve.” A Possible Dream: Retaining California Teachers So All Students Can Learn Futernick, K. (2007) Center for Teacher Quality. Sacramento: California State University “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela

3. INTRODUCTIONS • Name • Agency • Role

4. PRESENTATION • What’s the Problem? • One Community’s Response: Math for America San Diego • III. Predictable Challenges • IV. Opportunities, Resources & Predictable Challenges in Your Community • V. Whole Group Discussion

5. United States is 21st and 25th respectively Right below Iceland and just ahead of the Slovak Republic Science and Math Ranking

6. MIDDLE SCHOOL IMPACT Just half of the math teachers in the poorest performing middle schools in California are fully credentialed to teach math. Under-qualified teachers

7. NAEP DATA – California 48th – 4th Grade Reading 47th – 4th Grade Math 43rd – 4th Grade Science (of 44 states) 48th – 8th Grade Reading 45th – 8th Grade Math 42nd – 8th Grade Science (of 44 states)

8. California’s Aging Teachers • 1 in 3 teachers will be eligible for retirement in the next 10 years • 1 in 5 teachers will be eligible for retirement in the next 5 years • Between 11,000 – 13,000 teachers retire each year in California • 100,000 teachers are expected to retire in the next 10 years

9. California’sChallenge • From 02/03 to 06/07: • 11% decline in credentials issued • 26% decline in Out of State credentials issue • 25% decline in Out of State Single Subject credentials issued • 32% decline in number of CBEST test takers

10. CA Math/Science Credentials

11. Math and Science Teacher Needs In the next 10 years, California will need… 30,000 new math and science teachers. • In the next 5 years, California will need… 16,000 new math and science teachers. At the current rate of production, California will fall 30% short.

12. San Diego County • By 2011, San Diego County will need: • 480 Math Teachers • 620 Science Teachers • By 2015, San Diego County will need: • 5,500 teachers in general!

13. THE PARTNERS • Schools • Escondido Union High • Oceanside Unified • Grossmont Union High • San Diego Unified • San Diego County Office of Education • Universities • CSU San Marcos • San Diego State Univ. • UC San Diego • Community Orgs. • Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego • San Diego Foundation

14. MISSION of MfA SD MfA SD will improve student understanding of mathematics in high-need schools by providing selected teachers (MfA Fellows) with extensive professional support in their credential year(s) and in their first years of teaching.

15. Program Goals • Improve retention rate of mathematics teachers in low- income & high-need secondary schools • Improve the quality of mathematics teaching by increasing teachers’ content knowledge and pedagogical skills • Improve student learning and in mathematics in identified schools or school clusters

16. Program Based on Research and… Research Findings Program Elements • Inadequate compensation • New teachers feel isolated • “Bureaucratic impediments” • Provide $15,000 stipend • Create professional community, mentor • Mentor, work with principal, and math department lead

17. Modeled on Pilot Program in NYC • Founded in 2004, ~200 Fellows in NYC schools • Founded by Jim Simons • Success: good retention rates of Fellows • Establishing national network of MfA sites • www.MathforAmerica.org

18. The Fellowship and Mentorship • MfA SD Fellows • Undergrads AND career-changers • Entering credential program • 12 Fellows per year • $15,000 per year • Tuition and fees paid • Extensive professional support • MfA SD Mentors • Experienced & exemplary math teachers • Teach in partnership districts • 3 per year (1 for 4 Fellows) • $10,000 per year • Leadership development program

19. Support System for Fellows

20. CHALLENGES: HR PERSPECTIVE • Recruitment • Hiring Timelines and Process • Placement • Multiple MfA Fellows at same site • Site Based Mentors • COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

21. CHALLENGES: ALIGNMENT • Alignment with District Initiatives • BTSA Requirements • Support Provider Selection/Training • PLC • District and Site Prof. Develop.

22. CHALLENGES & STRATEGIES • District Leadership Buy-In • District by District Approach • Relationship & Trust Building • Inclusive MfA Leadership Team

23. LOOKING AT YOUR COMMUNITY

24. THANK YOU • “The essence of education is not • to stuff our new teachers with the facts, • but to help them discover their • uniqueness, to teach them how • to develop it, and then to show • them how to give it away.” • - Leo Buscaglia Chris Reising Barbara Edwards creising@sdcoe.netbedwards@ucsd.edu (858) 292-3556 (858) 534-3674