The Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) program provides formula grants to states under Title II, Part B of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001.  The purpose of the program is to support the improvement of student achievement in the areas of mathematics and science by encouraging state educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and high-need local educational agencies to partner in high-quality professional development programs.

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is responsible for the administration of the MSP program and will award funds to support successful proposals. Rhode Island's MSP program is designed to respond to the needs expressed around mathematics and science statewide. It seeks to increase instructional coherence at all levels of the system by aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment to each other and to the state standards through projects that

• focus on the education of mathematics and science teachers as a career-long process that continuously stimulates teachers' intellectual growth and upgrades teachers' knowledge and skills; and
• develop more rigorous mathematics and science curricula that are aligned with challenging State and local academic content standards and with the standards expected for postsecondary study in engineering, mathematics, and science.