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.

Who will teach tomorrow’s coders

High school students need computer science skills, but who will teach them? The Institute for School Partnership is addressing Missouri’s desperate shortage of computer science educators through the Code.org professional learning program, which prepares educators with no coding experience to lead computer science classes. The need is urgent: only one-third of Missouri high schools offer computer science.

High school students should study earth science. Here’s why

Ever wonder why some subjects are taught in high school while others are not, or why students spend so much time memorizing facts? According to Washington University geophysicist Michael Wysession, science curricula in the US are based on standards that are more than 120 years old, and being stuck in the past has had serious consequences. Wysession is bringing a new approach to science education to St. Louis and beyond.

Partnership launches a health center at Normandy High School

A new health center at Normandy High School will provide students much-needed primary health care and behavioral health services. For the Sake of All, an initiative led by Jason Purnell of Washington University in St. Louis, has identified school-based health centers as a key strategy in tackling health inequities affecting African Americans in the St. Louis region.