Alabama Math Science Technology Initiative (AMSTI)
Impact
The Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) has trained some 20,000 teachers and administrators who serve more than 400,000 students in half of Alabama’s K-12 schools. AMSTI students have made stunning gains amounting to 28 days of extra learning in math and 40 extra days in reading. With enough funding, AMSTI could reach 20,000 or more new teachers, and hundreds of thousands of students, in three years.
Accomplished
- Need Accomplished
- Evaluation Accomplished
- Sustainability Accomplished
- Replication & Scalability Accomplished
- Partnerships Accomplished
- Capacity Accomplished
- Challenging & Relevant Content Accomplished
- STEM Practices Accomplished
- Inspiration Developing
- Under-Represented Groups Developing
The results affirm Alabama’s investment in AMSTI as a premier professional development delivery system for STEM education. Alabama’s future is bright as these young minds are challenged to think critically and solved complex problems with no obvious answer – the 21st century skills business and industry are asking of our graduates.
Alabama State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Design Principles
The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy. Programs must be Accomplished (
) across all Design Principles, or be Developing (
) in a maximum of three areas.
Overarching Principles
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Need Accomplished
Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.
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Evaluation Accomplished
Use rigorous evaluation to continuously measure and inform progress towards the compelling need identified.
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Sustainability Accomplished
Ensure work is sustainable.
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Replication & Scalability Accomplished
Demonstrate replicability and scalability.
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Partnerships Accomplished
Create high impact partnerships.
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Capacity Accomplished
Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.
STEM Principles
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Challenging & Relevant Content Accomplished
Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience.
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STEM Practices Accomplished
Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.
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Inspiration Developing
Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.
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Under-Represented Groups Developing
Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.
Program Overview
The Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative is the Alabama Department of Education’s initiative to improve math and science statewide. Its mission is to provide all students in Grades K-12 with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce and/or postsecondary studies. The program was designed by a Blue Ribbon Committee comprised of lead K-12 teachers and administrators, higher education representatives, and business leaders. AMSTI provides three basic services to schools: professional development, equipment and materials, and on-site support. Each AMSTI teacher receives 120 contact hours of subject and grade specific professional development during the Summer Institutes. Teachers conduct all of the hands-on activities they will eventually perform with their students at the institutes. Then, upon returning to their school, they receive all of the equipment and materials needed to engage their students in hands-on, activity-based instruction. As AMSTI is funded from a state line item in the education budget, there is no direct cost to the teacher, school, or school district for participation in AMSTI.