Research Projects

Mathematics

Several MSAN districts are involved in a research partnership with the Strategic Education Research Partnership (SERP) Institute. The SERP-MSAN partnership has coalesced around three main areas: 1) Academic Youth Development, 2) Mathematics Intensification, and 3) Understanding District Dynamics. Recently the Goldman Sachs Foundation funded the "Improving College Prospects by Improving Math Achievement" research project. This Mathematics Intensification project focuses on developing algebra homework assignments as a means of targeting "robust misconceptions -- misunderstandings about key concepts shared by many students who struggle with Algebra I and which can be difficult for students to unlearn even with teacher's best efforts." (SERP Working Group Meeting Minutes, March, 2008).

The first meeting of the Math Assignments Working Group was held March 8, 2008 and included Math Coordinators and teachers from Arlington, Evanston (elementary and high school), Madison, and Shaker Heights school districts as well as additional �??affiliate�?� members of the working group, including Cleveland Heights/University Heights and Brookline. During the Working Group Meeting members laid �??the foundation for assignment development, began to develop the implementation plans, and discuss the homework website�?� (SERP Working Group Meeting Minutes, March, 2008). The Math Assignment Working Group will meet 6 times over the course of two years.

For more information on this project please see: SERP Institute: Addressing the Algebra Skills and School Engagement of Minorities (PDF)

Literacy

MSAN Report on Research: Read180

Research Advisory Board

Ronald Ferguson
Harvard University

Gloria Ladson-Billings
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Pedro Noguera
New York University

John Diamond
Harvard University