Fort Peck Rural Systemic Initiative in Science, Mathematics and Technology

Fort Peck Community College, Poplar MT

Investigators

Abstract

The Rural Systemic Initiative proposed by Fort Peck Community College for the next five years will build on the accomplishments of the previous High Plains program. Fort Peck Community College will serve as the catalyst for establishing common goals for the new program. Systemic change in science, mathematics and technology education will be implemented throughout the reservation school system K-12 and Fort Peck Community College. Members of the collaboration include the five public school districts, Fort Peck Community College, the Fort Peck Tribal Education program, the Montana Office of Public Instruction and other collaborators. Objectives Objective 1. By August 2000, each of the five reservation schools will implement vigorous, standards-based instruction for all students and the curriculum, professional development and assessment systems to document systemic change. Objective 2. By June 1, 2001, each leadership team will establish a unified set of policies to facilitate and enable Objective 1. Objective 3. By July 1, 2001, each instructional leadership team will insure that all resources (school and grant funded) are uniformly applied. Objective 4. By September 2001, the Project Coordinator and leaderships teams will mobilize the full community stakeholders in order to facilitate Objective 1. Objective 5. By August 2002, the instructional leadership teams will insure that all schools increase student attainment in science, mathematics and technology. Objective 6. By August 2005, the systemic approach will result in a reduction in attainment differences between those traditionally underserved and their peers. Methodology The Principal Investigator and Project Coordinator will administer the project. The Project Advisory Committee composed of major stakeholders, will be responsible for policy development, change process, dissemination of information about the project to the community, strategic planning and project evaluation. The instructional leadership teams, composed of all Fort Peck public school teachers who regularly teach mathematics, science and technology, school administrators, and Fort Peck Community College advisors, will be responsible for systemic change in instruction, curriculum and evaluation. Potential Impact The project will result in a reduction in attainment differences between students traditionally underserved and their peers. The degree of student attainment will be documented by the Core Data Elements. Project achievement will be measured by documenting the degree to which the objectives have been achieved.