The Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications, Inc. (COMAP) seeks funding for one year to conduct a study of the mathematical preparation of elementary teachers in colleges and universities in the country. The study will be conducted in two parts. The first part, a quantitative study, will survey a large sample of institutions of higher education to determine the number of courses required, corresponding course descriptions, and departments offering the course/s. The second part will be a qualitative survey using a smaller sample of schools; the data collected will include detailed course descriptions, tests, texts used, and other resource materials. Anecdotal information on the relationship and collaboration between mathematics departments and colleges of education will be obtained in order to have insights on the design and implementation of all components of elementary mathematics teacher education. The results of the study will be disseminated to all mathematics department chairs and to preservice program directors. It will also be publicized through various professional journals. The findings of this study will help the profession determine the present status of the mathematics preparation of elementary teachers and guide future directions and initiatives in mathematics education. The impact of the project will be very significant to institutions with elementary mathematics preservice program departments, to professional organizations, to certification units in state departments of education, and to funding agencies. The study is supported by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and the American Mathematical Society (AMA). Both of these organizations will supply membership lists and information on departments and individuals. The executive directors of the AMS and MAA will endorse the survey through cover letters sent with questionnaires. In addition, the Exxon Foundation will support the study with an award of one- half of the costs of the project.
