This article contributes to the larger narrative around what makes a mathematics professional development (PD) successful and in what ways. We share a research-based PD model that was implemented in elementary schools in an urban school district for 3 years. The model uses a pseudo lesson study approach and emphasizes standards-based instruction. We found that teachers made gains in knowledge and instruction quality. However, whereas some students saw gains on standardized assessments, this was the case only for students who were not members of historically minoritized groups (Black/Latino), countering our assumptions that the PD would lead to equitable achievement results. We conclude with a discussion of how a colorblind approach to PD may account for the inequitable results.
This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL-1223074. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
The guest editor for this article was Douglas Clements.
Kathleen Melhuish, Department of Mathematics, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666; melhuish@txstate.edu