The Virginia Urban Corridor Teacher Preparation Collaborative is a joint effort of the liberal arts and science and education faculties of universities and colleges (Longwood College, Mary Washington College, Norfolk State University, and Virginia Commonwealth University) who train the large majority of prospective teachers within Virginia's urban corridor, the region's Community Colleges (Germana, J. Sargeant Reynolds, Tidewater), the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition, and the regional school systems. The goal of the Collaborative is to implement programs that will prepare K-8 teachers who have strong science and mathematics backgrounds, who enjoy science and mathematics, who understand what is known about the types of teaching that enable students to learn, and whose teaching will reflect their scientific and pedagogical knowledge. The Collaborative will put in place policies that require and encourage prospective teachers to study more, and more appropriate, science and mathematics. All science and mathematics courses taken by prospective K-8 teachers will be renewed and reformed by adapting the "best practices" being developed nationwide. Course revision teams will include faculty from science disciplines, education departments, and master teachers from the school systems. A cadre of Clinical Faculty will work to improve all aspects of the teacher preparation program, including the in-school experiences of prospective and new teachers. Recruitment and retention efforts will enlist students in a teacher preparation program to work with the faculty as Teaching Associates. The Collaborative will include three cross-fertilization/dissemination activities: an annual week-long Science and Mathematics colloquium; an annual four-week long Institute featuring courses which are being developed by Collaborative institutions, and a published journal devoted to the preparation of prospective K-8 teachers in science and mathematics. This Collaborativ e will impact policies required for preparation of K-8 teachers; improve the nature and quality of instruction in mathematics and the sciences; improve in-school experiences of prospective teachers; enhance recruitment of qualified teachers of science and mathematics, particularly for underrepresented groups; and promote the dissemination of materials and approaches within the Collaborative and beyond.
