University Courses on
Mathematics and Science Content Knowledge
University graduate-level math and science courses for CPS teachers were a central component of the Chicago Math & Science Initiative (CMSI) 2002-2008. Like the on-going workshops focused on instructional materials and the work of instructional leaders helping teachers in their classrooms, these university courses were part of another facet of the CMSI professional development strategy for teachers of math and science.
This section discusses how federal, state, and city policies and resources shaped the context for this aspect of the CMSI. It then considers how the CMSI used incentives and accountability to increase the teacher enrollment in these university courses and the successes and challenges of its strategy. This section also describes implementation changes that altered this strategy and the strategy’s impact on teacher practice and student achievement.
