Framework for STATEWIDE MASTERS DEGREE OPPORTUNITIES
for Teachers of SCIENCE and MATHEMATICS

Mission:  To offer professional development opportunities leading to masters degrees in science, mathematics, education and leadership for teachers of science and mathematics across Virginia.   These programs would utilize the resources of science, mathematics and education faculty in IHE across Virginia through on-site, summer institute and distance learning courses.  Frequently special tracks within the program would be designed and appropriate new courses developed to meet the needs of identified cohorts of teachers, often with support from grants or other specific sources of funds.

Degree Granting Partners:  These IHE would offer specific masters degree programs to at least some segments of the K-12 science and mathematics teacher population.  Programs would permit up to one half of the academic credits to be completed at partner IHE.

• Degrees would be granted by the degree granting institution;
• Admissions and degree requirements would be set by degree granting institutions.

Contributing Partners:  Contributing partners would offer courses that could be considered by partner degree granting institutions for inclusion in their specific programs. 

• Courses could be offered at school system sites, in residential institutes, on IHE campuses, or in distance learning formats;
• Tuition and fees will be set and collected by each contributing partner and may vary depending on offering format.

Statewide Council:  Members would include:

• One representative in mathematics and one in science from each degree granting and contributing partner;
• One representative each from Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (VCTM) and Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST);
• One representative each from State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE);
• One representative from Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition (VMSC) who would serve as the initial chair of the council.

Committees:  The council would have two standing committees:

• Degree Granting Partners;
• Contributing Partners.

Statewide Recruiting and Publicity:  A brochure and website will be developed describing the professional development opportunities.  Initially the costs will be covered by grants that have been received by Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Virginia in response to proposals that were submitted in conjunction with the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition.