| Title: | WWC Quick Review of the Report "Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Impact Study: Findings After the First Year of Implementation" |
| Description: | The study examined whether 7th-graders' knowledge of rational numbers improved when the students' math teachers participated in related professional development activities. The study analyzed data on about 4,500 students and 200 teachers from approximately 80 schools in 12 districts during the 2007-08 academic year. The effects of professional development were measured by comparing student outcomes at the end of the academic year in schools that were offered professional development provided by the study with outcomes in schools that did not. The study found that students in schools where teachers were offered extensive professional development performed the same on a test of math achievement in rational numbers as students in comparison schools at the end of the 2007-08 academic year. Further, the study found that the professional development had no impact on teacher knowledge of rational number topics and on how to teach them. However, the study found a significant positive impact of the professional development on one of the three measures of teacher instructional practices examined. Teachers who were offered the study's professional development engaged in 1.03 more activities per hour that elicited student thinking than teachers not offered the study's professional development. The WWC rated the research described in this report as consistent with WWC evidence standards. |
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| Cover Date: | August 2010 |
| Web Release: | August 24, 2010 |
| Publication #: | REL QRMSM0824 |
| Center/Program: | REL |
| Associated Centers: | NCEE |
| Authors: | WWC |
| Type of Product: | Quick Review |
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