The most important determinant of what children learn is what teachers know; therefore, deepening teachers’ mathematical content knowledge and instructional know-how can translate into great gains in understanding for their students. To meet this goal in Chicago, the Collaborative received a four-year, $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation, funding a new program that aims to improve early mathematics learning in Head Start classrooms across the city.

Through learning labs, consultation with Head Start directors, and coaching, this new program intends to help prepare teachers and teacher assistants to provide effective, intentional math instruction. It also intends to assist centers in the development of family math activities.

“The biggest challenge of any intervention program is what happens when the project ends,