The Program for Excellence in Mathematics and Science is designed to offer 120 secondary school teachers courses that focus on recent developments and advancement in academic subject areas. These courses will be high-quality content offerings taught by selected URI academic faculty who can model the kinds of instructional approaches that are called for in the state and national standards and frameworks for mathematics and science. The Providence School Department will be the partner in this project, and the courses will be offered at the URI Providence Center and on-site in Providence high schools. Though focusing on the Providence teachers, the courses will be available to other teachers in the state. The project also includes an Industrial Fellowship Program.
All courses carry three graduate credits in the appropriate area.
It is difficult for teachers to find college courses to help them retain their state teacher certification or move from provisional to professional standing. In addition, there are many obstacles for teachers attempting to obtain graduate-level credit in the sciences including lack of suitable courses that meet when teachers are available. When developing the distance learning program, participating teachers will be required to spend time in the field with URI scientists in a hands-on learning environment. One of the unique aspects of the program is that an integrated experience in the sciences and technology will be delivered to the teachers in their local school districts by URI professional staff and instructors. Teachers attend sessions after school in their own communities, helping to build a local professional support system.