For Immediate Release • September 29, 2005
Terren Roloff, Director
Community Relations
Phone: 354-7338

SPS to study instructional coaching with $2.5 million NSF grant

The National Science Foundation recently awarded Spokane Public Schools a $2.5 million research grant over five years to study the efficacy of using instructional coaches for the professional development of science teachers.

The grant will provide for two additional full-time instructional coaches who will split time among four schools, as well as several others who will provide coaching in a limited capacity. Coaches will work closely with grade-level teams, focusing on the core science curriculum for grades three through 10. Four full-time science coaches currently work in SPS schools.

In addition, an independent entity will conduct the actual research and collect data on instruction and student performance. And, an additional outside evaluator will monitor the fidelity of the implementation.

“We hope to demonstrate that this teaching model has a high impact on improving student achievement,” said Coordinator of Science/ Health/Human Growth & Development Scott Stowell, who led the effort on developing the research proposal. “The findings from this research have the potential to answer an important question about how instructional coaches for science teachers increase their effectiveness in the classroom and, in turn, the achievement of their students.”