The Principal PROMiSE Research Project will investigate how principals can best support student achievement in mathematics and science by increasing their content and pedagogical knowledge related to Florida’s new standards and preparing them to support improved instruction through professional learning communities and other strategies. The study will look specifically at changes in knowledge about teaching mathematics and science, understanding of Florida’s new mathematics and science standards, progress in establishing professional learning communities, changes in teacher instruction and impacts on student achievement in both content areas.  A pilot study (2008-09) will help develop and refine the professional development; a randomized field trial (2009 through 2011) will test its effectiveness. Elementary principals in Florida, who registered and were selected to participate in PROMiSE professional development, will be invited to participate. Those randomly assigned to delivery of the professional development in 2009 will be the treatment group; those randomly assigned for 2010 delivery will be a wait-list control group. A random subsample of 60 schools will be invited to participate in a follow-up study that will involve additional data collection from principals and teachers of mathematics and science in grades 3-5.   The results of this study will inform future professional development and school-level efforts to improve mathematics and science achievement.

Lead Investigator:  Laura Hassler Lang, Ph.D. , Director, FSU Learning Systems Institute

Research Project Director: Robert Schoen, Mathematics Specialist