Nature


Strategic Initiatives

Improving Teacher Quality Grants

Overview

The Department of Higher Education administered funding from the Title II: Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 for several professional development partnerships through the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Improving Teacher Quality State Grant Program.

Contact

Winnie Hagan
Associate Commissioner,
Academic Affairs & Student Success
(617) 994-6912
whagan@dhe.mass.edu

Duration

2001 – 2018

Funding

Title II: Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Related Data

 

 

Student Identities
Partnerships

Various

Related Initiatives

 

Background

Each funded partnership included at least one institution of higher education as the lead, a high-need school district, and one or more non-profit education partners serving children in the school districts. Funds were used to conduct professional development activities in core academic subjects and the science of early learning to ensure that teachers, paraprofessionals, and principals have content knowledge that will enhance children’s learning. Awards were made for up to four years, on conditions of yearly progress and continued federal appropriation. The ESEA grant has been replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) grant, which does not include an allocation to state higher education authorities. The grant ended in September 2018.

Resource: Early Learning Projects Toolkit

The Early Learning Projects Toolkit is a digital ‘how-to’ resource that can be utilized for any entity wishing to improve learning experiences and outcomes for children from preschool through grade 3. The ELP Toolkit focuses on an ecological frame for the professional development and education of the early childhood workforce in a publicly funded mixed delivery system. It includes a project overview including the central concept for the projects and chapters on the four essential structural elements that contributed to the success of the projects—Higher Education, Communities, Classrooms and the ECE Workforce.

Funding for the development of the ELP Toolkit was included in Year 4 of projects in the most recent grant cycle. As a resource developed by funding from the US Department of Education and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, it is available to the public at no cost.

Past Projects

Funded: 2014 – 2017

On August 16, 2013, the Department of Higher Education announced several grants for proposals submitted in the new cycle of the federal Title II Part A: Improving Teacher Quality Grant Program. The funds were used for professional development activities in Early Learning to ensure that early educators increase content and pedagogical knowledge in the science of early learning, in ways that would serve to help prevent and close achievement gaps for children.

Institution(s) Project Name Year 1 Award 2014 Year 2 Award 2015 Year 3 Award 2016 Year 4 Award 2017
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
 
  • North Adams Public Schools
  • Northern Berkshire School Union
  • Adams Cheshire Public Schools
  • Berkshire County Head Start
  • Pittsfield Public Schools
  • The Clark
  • Berkshire Museum
  • Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Child Care of the Berkshires
Berkshire Early Learning Lab $107,827 $107,827 $399,461 $323,564
University of Massachusetts Boston
 
  • Chelsea Public Schools
  • CAPIC Head Start
Chelsea Achieves in Mathematics $116,480 $116,480 $277,948 $194,459
University of Massachusetts Boston
 
  • Lowell Public Schools  (LPS)
  • Coordinated Family & Community Engagement Council
  • LPS Birth to Grade 3 Alignment
  • Early Childhood Associates
Higher Order Teaching $147,374 $147,374 $147,374 $225,137
Worcester State University
 
  • Quinsigamond Community College
  • Worcester Public Schools
  • Worcester Head Start
  • Ecotarium
  • Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
Using Science to Strengthen and Align Early Childhood Teaching $95,461 $110,062 $120,903 $97,931
Funded: May 2013 – 2015

On August 16, 2013, the Department of Higher Education announced several grants for proposals submitted in the new cycle of the federal Title II Part A: Improving Teacher Quality Grant Program. The funds were used for professional development activities in Early Learning to ensure that early educators increase content and pedagogical knowledge in the science of early learning, in ways that would serve to help prevent and close achievement gaps for children.

Institution(s) Project Name Year 1 Award 2014 Year 2 Award 2015
Holyoke Community College Great Explorers and Readers Science Literacy Program $111,038 $111,038
Lesley University Professional Development for Elementary School Leaders and First Grade Teachers for Early Literacy Impact $156,000 -
Funded: May 2010 – 2012

On March 15, 2010, the Department of Higher Education announced five grants totaling $1,217,014 over a three-year period from the Improving Teacher Quality Grant Program. The funds were used for professional development activities in mathematics and writing to ensure that high school educators have appropriate subject matter knowledge in these academic subjects and an understanding of the current national dialogue around "college readiness." The following partnerships were awarded funding in May 2010 for up to three years of support. These initiatives are focused on College Readiness.

Institution Project Name Year 1 Award 2010 Year 2 Award 2011 Year 3 Award 2012
Clark University College Readiness Numbers and Words Project $73,338 $68,338 $68,338
College of the Holy Cross Foundational Mathematical Concepts for the High School to College Transition $45,000 $75,000 $120,000
University of Massachusetts Lowell PRIME-A Partnership for Readiness in Math and English $110,000 $112,000 $110,000
Wellesley College/MassBay CC/Cambridge Rindge and Latin Quantitative Reasoning to Engage Students and Prepare Them for College and Life: A Professional Development Workshop $105,000 - -
Worcester State College Improving Teacher Quality in Mathematics and English in New Bedford and Southbridge $110,000 $110,000 $110,000
Funded: May 2009 – April 2010
Institution Project Name Year 1 Award 2009
Wellesley College Quantitative Reasoning to Engage Students and Prepare Them for College and Life: A Professional Development Workshop $74,213
Funded: January 2008 – December 2010
Institution Project Name Year 1 Award 2008 Year 2 Award 2009 Year 3 Award 2010
American International College Physics First! for Teachers $110,000 $110,000 $110,000
Boston University Improving the Quality of Teachers of Physics $120,000 $120,000 $120,000
Clark University (Hiatt Center) Main South Curriculum and Knowing Program $64,669 $64,669 $64,669
College of the Holy Cross Summer Mathematics and Science Teacher Professional Development Workshops $51,084 $49,458 $49,458
Fitchburg State College Science Content Institutes and Integrating Science Inquiry for Grades 5-12 Teachers $86,694 $87,678 $87,627
Tufts University Problem Solving with Discrete Mathematics $95,000 $145,000 $145,000
University of Massachusetts Lowell Enhancing Math Collaboration: School-University Initiative for Professional Development $84,953 $84,948 $84,984
Urban Ecology Institute Providing In-depth Teacher Preparation in Science Through Content Training, Professional Development, and Access to Inquiry Based Curriculum Resources $90,000 $115,000 $115,000
Wheelock College Outdoor Science: environmental science Professional development for elementary teachers $72,218 $100,000 $100,000

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