District 6 Gets $600,000 Grant for Middle School Math, Science

Jun 09, 11:49 AM

Current Headlines: By Chris Casey, Greeley Tribune, Colo.

Jun. 9--Middle-school math and science classes will get an instructional coach and other staff support through a $600,000 grant recently awarded to Greeley-Evans School District 6.

The federal grant from the Math and Science Teaching Institute, part of the University of Northern Colorado's College of Natural and Health Sciences, amounts to $200,000 a year for three years.

"It was very exciting. We were tickled," said Dana Selzer, District 6 director of curriculum, who wrote the grant application.

The staff development and curriculum help comes at a good time as the district launches a new middle-school math curriculum next fall. After a year-long review, the district switched to a blended math curriculum that combines traditional math skills with story problems and real-life applications.

Improving middle school math and science is a high priority because District 6 students perform below the state average in math and science under the Colorado Student Assessment Program. The district hopes the grant will increase math and science achievement and give teachers additional support.

"We're partnering with UNC, so they'll provide some of the training and support for teachers," Selzer said.

Over the three years of the grant, professional development will be provided to District 6 teachers by Math and Science Teaching Institute and other faculty members at UNC.

Also, an instructional coach will be hired to meet monthly with teachers to help teachers in sixth, seventh and eighth grades prepare for the next instructional unit.

The grant is federally funded, Selzer, but flows through the state. Nine of the math-science grants were awarded to districts in Colorado.

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