IIT’s Partnership with Chicago Public Schools Helps Improve 2009 PSAE Results

Chicago, IL — March 10, 2010 —

Chicago Public Schools that chose Illinois Institute of Technology's (IIT) Mathematics and Science Education Department (MSED) as their partner in the High School Transformation (HST) program in 2006 performed best in the 2009 Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE), data show. Founded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, HST is a multi-year, $21 million project to enhance performance in some of the most underserved Chicago Public high schools.

In 2006, 14 Chicago Public Schools were selected to work on improving science education at the 9th grade level, through HST. Seven of the 14 schools chose to work with MSED. In April 2009, those students took the PSAE, which measures the academic performance of Illinois 11th grade students in reading, mathematics, science, and writing against Illinois Learning Standards. For PSAE results by school, please visit iirc.niu.edu/Default.aspx.

Of the 14 schools that began the HST program for science in 2006, three that were partnered with MSED outperformed the rest of the group in 2009 PSAE results when compared to the 2008 results:

• Carver Military Academy increased by 9.7 students meeting or exceeding expectations
• Chicago Military Academy increased by 7.2 students meeting or exceeding expectations
• George Washington High School increased by 5.0 students meeting or exceeding expectations

Additionally, Harper Turnaround, a school that began working with MSED in the 2008-2009 school year, ranked fourth among the 14, with 2.8 more students meeting or exceeding performance expectations on the PSAE, and a fifth school, John Hope College Preparatory, ranked sixth among the group.

The PSAE composition score includes one day of American College Test (ACT) testing on English, math, reading, science, and writing; the second day covers applied math, applied reading, and science. Illinois examines a combination of both days’ test scores to determine PSAE results.

“We are highly encouraged about the initial results of IIT’s participation in the High School Transformation Project,” said Norman Lederman, IIT MSED professor and chair. “We anticipate that our partner schools will continue to improve as will the remaining 14 high schools. We believe that our carefully sequenced science curricula, customized professional development, and on-site support have created productive changes in the culture of each of the school’s science departments.”

In its approach, MSED works closely with teachers from each partner school, providing weekly instructional support and coaching. Additionally, as part of a partnership between IIT and The Field Museum in Chicago, schools are offered the opportunity to work with unique curricula focusing on scientific inquiry and the nature of science.

MSED continues to partner with additional schools that have joined the program since 2006. A full list of participating schools is available at http://research.cps.k12.il.us/cps/accountweb/Assessment/IDSAS/.

Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting university with more than 7,300 students in engineering, sciences, architecture, psychology, design, humanities, business and law. IIT's interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum is designed to advance knowledge through research and scholarship, to cultivate invention improving the human condition, and to prepare students from throughout the world for a life of professional achievement, service to society, and individual fulfillment. Visit www.iit.edu.