University and School District Collaboration: A Case to Increase Diversity in Advanced Mathematics

• In Event: STEM in Gifted Education and Talent Development

Abstract

Plucker, Hardesty, and Burroughs (2013) noted significant differences in academic achievement for high ability students based on race and class. This Excellence Gap reflects the disparities in opportunities to develop academic talent. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how research-based collaboration between a School of Teacher Education and a school district can impact the lives of students. The was to help the district re-imagine and revise the services for high poverty, culturally linguistically diverse (CLD) students who show advanced mathematics potential to increase the number of students enrolled in the advanced mathematics pathway. The research question was: How does district and higher education collaboration influence high poverty, CLD gifted students’ development of mathematics ability?

Authors

• Antonia Szymanski, Western Kentucky University

• Janet Lynne Tassell, Western Kentucky University

• Savannah Denning, Western Kentucky University