Scaling Developmental Math Innovations in a Networked Improvement Community: Evidence From the Carnegie Math Pathways

• In Event: Networked Improvement Communities (NICs): Understanding the NIC Model for Improvement and Scaling

Abstract

The Carnegie Math Pathways (CMP) is comprised of two courses that redesign the content, pedagogy, and structure of traditional developmental math courses. We used a mixed-methods approach to categorize and examine 23 CMP institutions by their degree of implementation success. We identified external articulation agreements, senior leadership support, collaborative leadership, persuasive and effective communication, and high-quality faculty development as key institutional factors and conditions that impact CMP implementation, with collaborative leadership and external articulation being mentioned much more frequently by successful implementing institutions than unsuccessful implementing institutions. Additionally, we found no relationship between traditional organizational demographics and implementation success. Our research provides insight into what it takes to scale a developmental math program within the community college space.

Authors

• Angel Bohannon, Northwestern University

• Melrose Huang, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

• Christopher A. Thorn, WestEd