Overview of the Faculty Academy for Mathematics Excellence (FAME)

The Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College has developed a professional development program for mathematics teachers in Grades 6-10 designed to increase student achievement in pre-algebra reduce the achievement gap between well- and underserved students, and promote and algebra courses, e-teaching and learning of mathematics. The Faculty Academy for Mathematics Excellence (FAME) program will provide mathematics teachers with an intensive two-week professional development experience that will deepen their math content knowledge and expand their repertoire of mathematics instruction strategies.

The need to increase student achievement in grades 6-10 in mathematics and better train middle teachers in California is urgent. There is growing pressure on California schools to require all students take Algebra I in the eighth grade or earlier to meet Federal mandates and because students who successfully complete this course are more likely to take advanced mathematics courses in high school and pursue higher education than those who do not. However, many teachers, principals and parents believe that nearly half of the eighth grade student population is not ready for Algebra I. In order to prepare students for success in Algebra I, the quality of math instruction must be increased.

Objectives of the FAME program include the following:

1. Increase teachers' knowledge of key pre-algebra and algebra concepts
2. Guide teachers to make connections between school mathematics, the California Mathematics standards, and the ELD standards; and
3. Enable teachers to use differentiated mathematical instructional strate to address needs of English language learners
4. Develop and encourage the use of technology in the curriculum to support and enhance math teaching and learning: and
5. Increase the use of technology for visualization and multiple representations of pre-algebra and algebra concepts

KCI will evaluate the impact of the FAME program using a variety of assessments. The formative evaluation component will examine how the FAME program is being implemented, whether it is operating as intended, and what progress is being made toward the FAME program's goals. The summative evaluation component will assess the impact of the FAME program on teachers' acquisition of mathematics knowledge for teaching. The evaluation will include an examination of program activities, participant attitudes , content knowledge, and behaviors, and whether key benchmarks are met. Reports will be prepared to provide the necessary documentation, measurement, and progress toward realizing improved student and teacher outcomes. Assessment data that will be collected and analyzed for evaluation purposes include pre- and post- tests of teacher knowledge, post-institute surveys, and the skill with which teachers have implemented their newly acquired mathematics content and pedagogical materials. This data will be used to assess the following: a) attitudes of teachers towards the FAME program; b) teachers mathematics content and pedagogical knowledge; c) perceptions of the FAME program, and changes in observable teachers' behavior and instructional practices in the classroom.