Launching a professional development program
for K-12 mathematics teachers: Broad Overview

1. Key Steps

   • Identify needs that are to be met
     • Is the project important?
     • Would the project accomplish something innovative?
     • Would the project be sufficiently different from existing project?
     • Would the gains justify the expenditure of resources?
     • Would the project have impact that is lasting, and beyond your geographical locale?
     • Establish concrete, measurable goals and outcomes

     • Before and while you answer the above, and on an on-going basis: Familiarize yourself with existing/past proejcts; research; the grant agency's goals

   • Identify key participants at university level

   • Identify key participants and partners at LEA
     (Local Educational Agency, aka K-12 partner)

     Identify what resources will be needed

     • Physical materials -- books, curricula, etc; equipment, if any..
     • Expertise
     • Time (e.g. release time -- important!)
     • Funds to pay non-university partners (for travel, speaking, consulting..)
     • Staff support -- keeping track of grant records, finances, lists of contacts, etc.
     • Outline of funds that will be needed from grant agency
     • What funds will your/other universities or LEAs contribute?
     • Other resources that your/other universities or LEAs contribute.

     Establish a Program of Assessment & Evaluation

     • Formative and Summative
     • Internal and external
     • Informal and formal/reasearch-based
     • Qualitative and Quantitative

     Establish a timeline related to both project activities and to your Goals/Objectives.

     Create your Budget.

     Communication and Outreach

     • How will the core team stay in contact? Regular meetings; email;..
     • Outreach to LEAs before the project is launched
     • On going outreach to LEAs during and after the grant period

     Make sure you will have / Identify how you will obtain the resources needed to carry out the project:

     Do/will you have enough personnel, expertise, time, LEA-contacts/outreach, etc?

2. Key Recommendations

   • Resources, resources, resources. Make sure you have them!
     Especially:

     • Time (e.g. release time);
     • Staff support;
     • Primary Personnel with experience/expertise/high level of motivation;
     • And Partners. (with experience/expertise/high levle of motivation)

     Outreach, outreach, outreach: Have a presence in and on-going contacts and communications with your K-12 partners..

     Internal 'buy-in', committment, and support:

     Talk with your university (provost/dean as well as chair) preliminary outline of your proposal, before final proposal is send and make sure you have their support, including resources. Keep in touch with these key people during the grant to ensure post-grant period sustainability will take place.

     Look for programs/strategies that promote win-win for the various participants and stakesholders.

     Look and for Synergies (two or more things accomplished at once)

     See Concluding Remarks section of the ADEPT Binder for more suggestions.