Mayville State University seeks funds to develop a model Mathematics Specialist Program for grades K-8. A preservice teacher preparation program will be designed, developed and tested for implementation in North Dakota and Western Minnesota elementary schools. With adjustments, the preservice program will also serve inservice teachers who will be prepared as mathematics specialists and mathematics stewards for their schools. Through a cooperative arrangement with twelve area school districts and four Native American Reservations, the university will prepare inservice teachers as mathematics specialists and will define the role of a mathematics curriculum steward: an individual with a mathematics concentration, who is a professional advocate and a counselor in mathematics education, and provides on-site consultant service to improve and coordinate mathematics instruction throughout their schools. Program evaluation will be an integral part of the development process and an active dissemination network will be developed for purposes of educating teachers throughout North Dakota and the region. The goal of the program is to implement the NCTM Curriculum and Evaluation Standards in over 1,000 elementary classrooms by 1997. National experts in mathematics education will assist the proposers in the development and implementation of the project. The contribution of Mayville State University accounts for 53% of the NSF budget.
