Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Educationawarded $944,721 in federal funds to four lead campuses to improve P-12 educator quality at its meeting held Friday, Nov. 21.
Morehead State University, University of Kentucky, Northern Kentucky University, and Murray State University will receive the Improving Educator Quality (IEQ) funds for seven research-based professional development projects.
MSU funds of $149,999 will be for the 21st Century Education Enterprise (TCEE) project “Engineering Authentic Experiences in the Next Generation Science Classroom.”
TCEE's project will provide a sustainable prototype for redesigning science course content for middle and high school students that is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), through an opportunity to experience real-world, hands-on learning.
TCEE will be partner with Alltech Inc, University of Kentucky's Partnership Institute for Math and Science Education Reform (PIMSER), Northwestern University's iLab Network, Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC), University Center of the Mountains, Hazard Community and Technical College; as well as faculty from MSU's Colleges of Science and Technology, and College of Business and Public Affairs.
The programming will be grounded in project-based learning, NGSS implementation, and teacher/student learning activities for grades 7-12, relevant to current and future industrial STEM fields.
Continuing last year’s focus, programs center on how to assist teachers in integrating the Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards and related assessments in accelerated learning environments.
“Each of these partnerships brings together Kentucky’s K-12 teachers and postsecondary faculty to improve teaching. The more we improve teaching, the greater the impact will be on the college and career readiness of Kentucky students,” said Council President Bob King.
To be eligible, a partnership must include a postsecondary institution’s school of arts and sciences, its teacher preparation program and at least one high-need local school district.
In other business, the Council:
· Authorized two capital projects—a $1.25 million athletics maintenance facility at the University of Louisville to be funded by the U of L Athletic Association and a $1.4 million volleyball facility at Morehead State University to be privately funded.
· Approved three new degree programs—the Master of Science in nonprofit leadership studies at Murray State University, the Master of Science in environmental and occupational health science and the doctor of applied psychology at Western Kentucky University.
· Presented resolutions for outstanding service for the following who have announced retirements: Dr. Michael McCall, KCTCS president; Dr. Linda Linville, senior policy advisor for research, development and health initiatives; Dr. Allen Lind, CPE vice president for innovation and e-learning; and Ms. Yvonne Lovell, CPE executive director for GearUp Kentucky.
· Heard progress reports from Kentucky State University, Murray State University and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
· Received the results of the Council agency audit that showed no findings or recommendations.
The Council heard the following reports: CPE President’s Report, Commissioner of Education Report, 2012-13 Accountability Report, strategic agenda planning, Dual Credit Work Team, Funding Model Steering Committee update, Committee on Equal Opportunities (CEO), State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, and institutional reports were made available.
Chair Pam Miller appointed the following members to the 2016-20 Strategic Agenda Planning Committee: Dan Flanagan, Arnold Taylor, Sherrill Zimmerman, Maryanne Elliott, Joe Graviss and Donna Moore. To the Nominating Committee, Miller appointed Donna Moore, Joe Wise and Marcia Ridings. Student member Joshua Tunning was appointed to the Committee on Equal Opportunities.
CPE’s next meeting is set for Feb. 12-13 in Frankfort.
- See more at: http://www.moreheadstate.edu/News/2014/November/MSU_receives_nearly_$200K_in_IEQ_funds/#sthash.YXR6V07j.dpuf