Education Partnerships
University of California
Office of the President
1111 Franklin St., 9th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607-5201
These initiatives are helping us learn more about what really works to prepare high quality teachers and raise student achievement.
A description of the program and a link to its website are available by selecting the program name.
Through the Science and Mathematics Teacher Initiative (SMI/CalTeach), the University of California is recruiting and preparing mathematics and science majors for future teaching careers by providing special coursework and field experiences in K-12 schools. The University has developed new minors and concentrations - 60 to date across the UC system - that focus specifically on math and science teaching. Strong collaborations between UC faculty in mathematics, sciences and education ensure that students develop both deep subject matter content knowledge and strong pedagogical skills. Offered at nine UC campuses, and with a parallel lower division program at 28 community colleges, SMI/CalTeach will place significantly more highly qualified math and science teachers into California schools.
Developed as part of the University's Regional Academic Collaboratives initiative for rural schools, the Summer Algebra Academy is a five-week program for rising ninth grade students focuses on increasing student academic performance in mathematics, introducing families to higher education, initiating systemic change within high school, and creating a college-going culture. Summer Algebra Academy is not a remedial summer school program; instead, the emphasis is on getting students ready for success in algebra in high school, a critical gatekeeping course in the "a-g" curriculum.
The summer initiative also proactively addresses any potential barriers to going to college and supports students' successful transition from middle to high school. Students receive about 100 hours of engaging, hands-on mathematics instruction to increase readiness for ninth grade algebra as well as 40 hours of college awareness services, including tutoring, mentoring, intensive counseling, academic and college planning, and family college visits. The concurrent Parent Academy introduces families to higher education and empowers parents with knowledge to help their children succeed.
Through the Transcript Evaluation Service (TES), schools can fine-tune their course offerings and bolster college readiness. The transcript analysis provided by the TES system helps students and their counselors choose the right classes at the right time to get them where they want to go - whether it's college or the world of work.