Two Institute of Government and Public Affairs affiliates have been awarded a $4.3 million grant to launch an innovative educational initiative aimed at transforming math teaching and learning in schools across the South Cook County region of Illinois.
The team, led by Alison Castro Superfine, Professor of Mathematics Education and Director of the Learning Sciences Research Institute at UIC, will include researchers Benjamin Superfine, Professor of Educational Policy Studies at UIC and Senior Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs, and Shelby Cosner, a former faculty member of the UIC College of Education now at the University of Georgia.
Supported by the $4.3 million Department of Education grant, this project directly addresses district-specific instructional challenges by shifting the focus to the school and classroom levels. The initiative is structured around three core components: professional development for math teacher leaders, professional development for school principals, and developing long-term, collaborative partnerships to use research in schools.
“While we bring research-based models and interventions, local educators bring invaluable knowledge of their contexts and challenges,” said Castro Superfine. “By integrating these perspectives, we can co-design solutions that are both effective and sustainable.”
Researchers will implement a professional development approach to strengthen instructional leadership at the school level. Math teacher leaders will receive targeted training to transform teacher team meetings into collaborative opportunities for instructional improvement. Additionally, school principals will participate in a specialized program to foster environments that support effective teaching and continuous improvement.
The research team will work closely with the South Cook County Intermediate Service Center, a regional office that serves as a critical liaison between the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts. This partnership allows the project to leverage local expertise and tailor interventions to the unique needs and challenges of each participating district.
Beyond its immediate goals, the initiative has the potential to influence education policy on a larger scale. By demonstrating how regional offices like the South Cook County Intermediate Service Center can play a pivotal role in fostering professional learning and instructional improvement, the project lays the groundwork for scalable, multi-level models of educational reform.
“Many large-scale education reforms fail because they don’t account for local context,” said Superfine. “This project is different. By combining localized problem-solving with broader structural support, we aim to create a replicable model for continuous improvement in education.”
The success of this initiative highlights the importance of pursuing high-impact grants and building strong partnerships with local, regional, and state organizations. Affiliates across the Institute of Government and Public Affairs are encouraged to explore similar opportunities to address pressing challenges in their fields.