Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Program

The Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Program is a two-year intervention designed for seventh-grade mathematics teachers focusing on rational number topics (fractions, decimals, ratio, rate, proportion, and percent). The program targets teachers in urban school districts serving high proportions of economically disadvantaged students. Delivered by two providers (America's Choice and Pearson Achievement Solutions), the PD includes summer institutes (3 days in year 1, 2 days in year 2), school-year seminars (5 days in year 1, 3 days in year 2), and in-school coaching visits (10 two-day visits in year 1, 8 two-day visits in year 2). The program emphasizes developing teachers' specialized knowledge of mathematics for teaching (SK) through problem-solving activities, discussions of student misconceptions, use of mathematical representations, and collaborative lesson planning. Teachers participate in both individual and group activities during institutes and seminars, and receive individual and group coaching that includes planning, observation, and debriefing cycles. The intended dosage is 114 total contact hours across two years (68 hours in year 1, 46 hours in year 2). Teachers who enter the study after the first-year summer institute receive a condensed 12-hour makeup institute.