Overview
The El Paso Urban Systemic Program (EPUSP) is supported by a
five-year, $11.5 million National Science Foundation Grant (NSF),
awarded in 1999. The El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence
(EPCAE) administers the grant jointly for the El Paso, Ysleta,
and Socorro Independent School Districts. Superintendents from
each district, along with the Executive Director of EPCAE, serve
as Co-Principal Investigators under USP. El Paso is one of 18
US cities selected nationwide and was one of the first to receive
this grant.
Over the past several years, the EP USP has focused on the following
initiatives.
- Selecting mathematics and science mentor teachers in
each of the three school districts to promote and sustain reform.
- Establishing model classrooms, collaboratively with
mentors and identified lead learner teachers, at focused feeder
pattern schools to significantly deepen the quality of mathematics
and science teaching and learning.
- Putting into place a professional development system
that reaches all classroom teachers in the focus feeder pattern
schools, as well as deepening the learning of mentor teachers.
- Providing support to all area schools in implementing
high quality, standards-meeting mathematics and science curriculum
and instruction, and the technology to enhance and facilitate
learning.
- Implementing a literacy program aimed at ensuring that
all students have the requisite language and literacy skills
for high mathematics and science achievement.
- Deepening professional development for district leaders,
principals, counselors and parents toward advancing systemic
education reform;
- Building the capacity of parent educators to promote
increased parental engagement at their schools to support higher
levels of student achievement.
- Developing and promoting policies requiring all students
to graduate having completed the Texas Recommended High School
Program.
During
the fall of 2002, the EPCAE was awarded a five-year, Math
and Science Partnership (MSP) Grant from NSF for $26.3 million.
This grant supports current USP efforts and strengthens educational
reform through partnerships that unite the efforts of local
school districts with science, mathematics, engineering and
educational faculties at the University of Texas at El Paso
and the El Paso Community College. The MSP grant includes
the involvement of local civic and business leaders as stake
holders in promoting high expectations and achievement for
all students, resulting in learning outcomes that can no longer
be predicted based on race/ethnicity, socio-economic status
gender or disability.
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