At the Institute for School Partnership, everyone knows partnership is in our name for a reason.

It's how our work is accomplished.

We partner with schools and districts, educators, and community organizations to create change in and support St. Louis area K-12 schools. The breadth of our work is wide, and depth is targeted, always centered around student well-being, particularly opening opportunities and changing the trajectory for the most vulnerable children.

The ISP brings current research and expertise in education, collaboration and systems change to our partnerships knowing full well that this alone will not accomplish the work at hand. We believe existing challenges are extraordinary and unique to each situation and location. Meeting them can’t be achieved without purposeful cooperation with those in the community who are doing the daily work of educating children.

Every voice is heard and respected – that is the power of ISP partnerships. That is what makes the work possible, meaningful, relevant, and effective.

We are always grateful for the dedication of our partners to pursuing innovative, sustainable change. However, the last tumultuous year brought home the value that committed, human-centered partnering holds in working together to solve problems and create space for new possibilities.

In this newsletter, we highlight the power of these partnerships in establishing scalable solutions that deliver meaningful results.

Partnership lays foundation for continuous improvement in SLPS STEM

"A great synergy developed quickly between the partners. We realized that collectively we have the power to do great work in the district."

– Carrie Launius, elementary science coordinator, St. Louis Public Schools

Last summer, four organizations came together to launch a new program in 17 St. Louis Public elementary schools. The Institute for School Partnership (ISP), The Little Bit Foundation (TLBF), and St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS), with funding from the Bayer Fund, developed a pilot program to increase capacity for STEM teaching and learning in SLPS. The program is designed to remove barriers for teachers and provide access to high-quality, hands-on STEM education for St. Louis City students.

continue reading. . .

Local partnerships re-envision math instruction

"The best, most transformative movements have been ground up, where the teachers inform each other. That is clearly outlined to me in this process and this partnership."

– Patrick Bellinger, assistant principal, Oakville Middle School, Mehlville

Successful completion of algebra 1 is the gatekeeper to higher-level math and is required for virtually any education beyond high school. That makes math education an equity issue.

A 2019 article in the Journal for Research and Mathematics Education states, “It’s well documented that Black and Hispanic students are underrepresented in eighth-grade algebra courses. As such, access to algebra in eighth grade is a critical instance of inequality of opportunity to learn, leading some scholars to refer to it as one of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time.”

continue reading. . .

Meeting the complexities of the times, together

Read how the Institute for School Partnership is partnering with educators, companies, and foundations to create equitable access to STEM education for every learner. Washington Magazine. 

Institute for School Partnership Executive Director Victoria L. May (left) and Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, Superintendent of The School District of University City, pose after the ISP received a Uniquely U. City award during a May 12 event in the Brittany Woods Middle School Courtyard. The ISP was honored for its math work with district educators.

Photo: The School District of University City

CONNECT  •  INSPIRE  •   EMPOWER

For information on giving contact

ISP Executive Director Victoria May: schoolpartnership@wustl.edu

The Institute for School Partnership is Washington University's translational arm for educational impact. We identify best practices in teaching and learning and implement these practices in local schools, particularly those with the most vulnerable and underserved students.

You are receiving this email because you expressed interest in receiving updates from the Institute for School Partnership and its related programs by email.