The Institute is also an inter-disciplinary forum for teachers to work together on new curricula. Each participating teacher becomes an Institute Fellow and prepares a curriculum unit to be taught the following year. Teachers have primary responsibility for identifying the subjects the Institute addresses. Between March and August Fellows participate in special Institute seminars led by Yale faculty members. They study the seminar subject generally and prepare curricular material individually to apply what they have learned to their own teaching.
Evaluation occurs continually.
Studies have shown how the Institute experience has increased teachers' preparation in their disciplines, raised their morale, heightened their expectations of their students, encouraged them to remain in teaching in New Haven, and has, in turn, enhanced student performance. Support from Yale University and the New Haven Public Schools, together with local and national foundations and corporations, and individuals. The Institute has been repeatedly recognized as a pioneering and successful partnership. Most recently, in 1991, with special recognition from the Business-Higher Education Forum. The IAP places these Student Ambassadors in Worcester public elementary schools where they present twice-weekly lessons on their study abroad.