New postdoctoral program to train educational researchers

St. Louis Translational Fellowships in Education will enable aspiring educational researchers to acquire the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to transition into careers of service to the PK-12 education system. The program will recruit individuals who have recently completed doctoral training for a two-year fellowship that will include coursework, research, and experience working in schools.

ISP math coaches support teachers in Mehlville, Ritenour, MRH

The collaborative, hands-on nature of ISP-style coaching is grounded in research confirming that mere observation followed by written feedback isn’t effective. What does work is an ongoing relationship punctuated with multiple classroom visits, in-the-moment problem-solving and  meaningful follow-up that elevates a coach from an occasional drop-in guest to a trusted thought partner there for the long haul.

Science learning at SLPS grows with inquiry-based instruction

Outcomes of a two-year STEM learning pilot program that the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis (ISP) completed in partnership with St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) and The Little Bit Foundation are encouraging.

New partnership empowers principals to ‘dream big’

The principals at seven local schools are poised to achieve big goals after participating in the SLPS Principal Redesign Fellowship, a bold new partnership between St. Louis Public Schools and the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis.

Education collaborative bridges gaps between local researchers and teachers

The St. Louis School Research-Practice Collaborative (SRPC) brings together education researchers from local universities and practitioners from city schools to tackle some of the most difficult questions facing the St. Louis education community. After almost three years of development, the SRPC began its first pilot project in September 2021.

Mud pies, math and mess with meaning

Early childhood math skills are important predictors of later academic achievement, but opportunities for young children to engage in math learning are extremely limited in preschool.

With support from the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis (ISP), the JGECEC teaching team is making sure their new mud kitchen and curriculum throughout the building are planned with early math learning in mind.

Partnering for restorative justice in University City schools

Rowhea Elmesky’s long-term collaboration with University City High School has contributed to a fundamental shift in school culture.

Since 2014, University City High School has reduced suspensions by more than 40% and dramatically changed its school culture. Rowhea Elmesky, associate professor of education, and Olivia Marcucci, PhD ’19, helped make it happen.

ISP program helps math students find new ways to solve real-world problems

Institute for School Partnership’s STEM District Immersion program helps students form a deep conceptual understanding to math that goes far beyond rote problem-solving. By posing real-world problems, students engage in high-level math discourse, explore multiple solutions and take intellectual risks. Read more at the Institute for School Partnership.

ISP pilots science program in SLPS

Last summer, four organizations came together to launch a new program in 17 St. Louis Public elementary schools. The Institute for School Partnership (ISP), The Little Bit Foundation (TLBF), and St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS), with funding from the Bayer Fund, developed a pilot program to increase capacity for STEM teaching and learning in SLPS. The program is designed to remove barriers for teachers and provide access to high-quality, hands-on STEM education for St. Louis City students

Building Pathways: U. City embraces distributed leadership

The School District of University City has taken a big leap in developing the next generation of transformational school leaders. Last summer, it named Jessica Hawkins and Deitra Colquitt co-principals of Pershing Elementary School. Both served as Teacher Instructional Leaders prior to their advancement. They credit the Transformational Leadership Initiative, a multi-year effort designed to […]

Check out STEM Challenges, fun activities for home

As we transition to distance learning, a consistent request from teachers has been for science activities that are engaging and not a set of “packets.” The Institute for School Partnership in collaboration with The Little Bit Foundation created these challenges with the goal of engaging students of all ages and their families in fun, interactive activities. Be sure to check back as we are frequently updating this page with more STEM Challenges.

COVID-19 and Race: Educational Equity in a New Era

When COVID-19 forced schools to change how they facilitated learning, long-standing race and class divides in our educational systems became more distinct than ever. The Clark-Fox Policy Institute lead a discussion with Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, superintendent of University City School District; Terry Harris, executive director of student services at Rockwood School District; Sherita Love, founding director […]

ISP to improve math education in local schools through Math314

Stagnant scores, frustrated students, daunted educators — such is the state of math education across the nation and in the region. That’s why the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis is introducing Math314, an innovative program that will improve math instruction and boost students’ enthusiasm for the subject.  

St. Louis area school discipline gap larger than thought

In St. Louis area schools, some students are far more likely to be suspended than those least at risk — 20, 30 or even 60 times more likely, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and Forward Through Ferguson.

Who Will Help Children? Building Brain Regimes

William F. Tate, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education, calls for the region to build a public-private “a brain regime” to protect the region’s children. Key recommendations including improving the region’s teachers, strengthening K-12 STEM education and reclaiming those students who have been pushed out of schools.

A new life, a new language

Cindy Brantmeier, professor of applied linguistics and education, has designed a social reading program that employs online games to help adolescent refugees and immigrants. The results are promising — test scores have improved along with student confidence.

Students at every grade need to learn climate science

Even the youngest students are ready to learn about climate science, according to Michael Wysession, professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and executive director of the Teaching Center.