Project FAST Capacity at UDC's Urban Teacher Academy

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The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is planning and developing a STEM concentration within its recently-launched Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program. The concentration is focused on preparing aspiring teachers to meet the state requirements for licensure in Middle School Science in the District of Columbia. The project is developing UDC's capacity in areas that are critical to offering a high-quality teacher preparation program for aspiring middle-school science teachers. Key outcomes for the project include: 1) Ready-to-teach curriculum for a MAT concentration in Middle School Science; 2) Program approval within UDC, and through the state education office; 3) Programmatic materials to wrap around the curriculum; and 4) A strong, engaged network of STEM professionals and partner institutions prepared to support program implementation as adjunct faculty and/or experiential learning partners. The Urban Teacher Academy at UDC prepares teacher candidates to differentiate instruction for exceptional learners and students building academic language proficiency. The project team includes teacher educators, a special educator, and language development experts in addition to STEM faculty and content experts from partner organizations. Project FAST Capacity is leading to the creation of a well-designed teacher preparation program for middle grades science, tailored to preparing teachers for high-needs urban schools, as well as a strategic plan for recruiting and preparing aspiring teachers from underrepresented minority backgrounds.