Eric.ed.gov – Engaging STEM Faculty in K-20 Reforms–Implications for Policies and Practices

The Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is a major national research and development effort that supports innovative partnerships among institutions of higher education (IHEs), local K-12 school systems, and their supporting partners in order to improve K-12 student achievement in mathematics and science. Deep engagement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplinary faculty is a hallmark of the MSP program. The program posits that disciplinary faculty hold the content knowledge that K-12 teachers need and that, if faculty are substantially involved, teachers’ disciplinary knowledge will be strengthened, resulting in improved student achievement. Drawing on a larger study that examines the effects of STEM faculty engagement in MSP, this article specifically looks at the tenure and promotion policies in a sample of IHEs involved in MSP. Recognizing that tenure and promotion policies may be slow to change, the authors also examine strategies that were used by selected MSP projects to engage STEM faculty in K-20 educational reforms in the absence of major policy changes at the university level. (Contains 2 tables.)