MSED Completes CPS High School Transformation Project

MSED partnered with 25 of 38 Chicago Public High Schools schools by helping CPS build its capacity to successfully teach biology, chemistry and physics.

MSED initially began working with seven schools in the project's first year. The project was expanded in year two, serving 11 schools, 20 year three and finally 25 city high schools. The continued expansion was significant because the schools themselves picked their university partner. The other two options were Loyola University/University of Illinois at Chicago or Northwestern University. MSED worked with almost two-thirds of all the possible schools.

In the project's final year, MSED helped ensure that CPS can carry on its work by intensively training CPS personnel in its skills and approach. The goal was to allow CPS to spread the MSED way throughout the district.

The High School Transformation Project (HSTP) was a multi-year, $21 million project to improve high school curriculum and instruction in mathematics, language arts, and science, so all students in Chicago have access to a high-quality education that will prepare them for success in college and work. HSTP was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, CPS, and the schools. It was one of the Gates Foundation's largest domestic education investments and one of the largest projects of its kind in the country.

MSED worked closely with teachers, providing instructional support and with partners, The Field Museum and Glencoe Publishing, offering significantly different curricula focusing on scientific inquiry and nature of science.