MNA is selected to evaluate three Math and Science Partnership (MSP) consortium projects—Genetics: It’s all in the genes, Critical Reading in Science, and Scientific Process in the Life Sciences for Worcester County Public Schools, MD. Over the course of summer and early Fall, MNA will work with the project team to complete the evaluations. These grants address an urgent need for a cohort of teachers in elementary and elementary/middle school grades in 8 high-need rural school districts on the eastern shore in MD. The need to teach these content areas originated in 2016 when teachers from these LEAs were surveyed on topics of interest and need in science. Among the 12 subject/content choices, a vast majority of them (78% to 84%) chose life sciences and genetics (e.g., plants, animal groups, and life cycles), a need for deeper understanding of the scientific method (e.g., problem solving) and critical reading in science. This need was further fueled by the low Maryland State Assessment (MSAs) science scores of students in 75% of the LEAs. MNA will use mixed methods to do pre-post content assessments and participation and satisfaction surveys, student assessments, and on-site observations. We are excited to be working with the consortium team again.
