Project Profile: "Appalachian MSP"

The Appalachian Mathematics and Science Partnership (AMSP) is a partnership among 38 central and eastern Kentucky school districts (Bath Co., Breathitt Co., Carter Co., Casey Co., Clark Co., Clay Co., Clinton Co., Corbin Independent, Estill Co., Floyd Co., Frankfort Independent, Garrard Co., Harlan Co., Jackson Independent, Jessamine Co., Johnson Co., Knott Co., Lee Co., Letcher Co., Lewis Co., Lincoln Co., Madison Co., Martin Co., McCreary Co., Montgomery Co., Morgan Co., Owsley Co, Paris Independent, Pike Co., Pikeville Independent, Powell Co., Pulaski Co., Rockcastle Co., Rowan Co., Washington Co., Wayne Co., Whitley Co., Woodford Co.), 9 Tennessee school districts (Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute, Anderson Co., Campbell Co., Cumberland Co., Grainger Co., Harriman City, Johnson Co., Oneida Special School, Scott Co.), 5 western Virginia school districts, (Dickenson Co., Russell Co., Scott Co., Tazewell Co., Wise Co.), the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative), and 10 institutions of higher education, including Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Pikeville College, Union College, University of Virginia College at Wise, University of Tennessee, Prestonsburg Community College, Somerset Community College, and the University of Kentucky, with the latter serving as the lead organization.

Student achievement for the almost 170,000 students in the partner districts is significantly lower than state averages. The Appalachian regions of the three states are characterized by low socio-economic status (income rates are 62-81% of national averages) with over one-third of children living in poverty. In addition, attracting and maintaining a staff of highly qualified mathematics and science teachers in the Appalachian region is a major challenge. Within the partner school districts, 38% of the mathematics teachers and 37% of the science teachers at the middle and high school levels are teaching with a minor or less in mathematics. Simultaneously, the number of individuals graduating with teacher certification in mathematics or science from the partner higher education students is extremely low.

This Partnership will reform science, mathematics and technology (MST) education in central Appalachia in order to eliminate the "achievement gap" in MST for regional preK-12 students and to build an integrated PreK-12 and higher education system to insure the selection, development and career-long support of a diverse and high quality mathematics and science teacher workforce.

AMSP involves four components to address the needs of the region:

1. Preservice teacher and administrator education;
2. Professional development of preK-12 personnel;
3. Student learning opportunities including parent/community engagement; and
4. Research to advance the understanding of rural education reform.