SciMathMN updates online STEM Teachers Center Mathematic content

SciMathMN, the host of the STEM Teachers Center frameworks site, is working on an update to the site to maintain and improve its usefulness for math teachers in traditional public, charter, and private schools for the foreseeable future.  SciMathMN received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education for this work.

The review focuses on reviewing the site’s content with an emphasis on resource links that may no longer be useful.  Identifying broken links and identifying new resources will enhance the value of the site to teachers looking for classroom resources.  The team working on the site upgrades will also look to ways to better incorporate the eight effective evidence-based practices in mathematics instruction.  Other content updates are being considered.

The Department of Education started a process to review the state academic standards in math in 2021.  That process, led by a large committee of teachers, academics, and community members, worked through three iterations of new standards and several rounds of community feedback. In December of 2022 the Department entered the technical and lengthy rulemaking process with the proposed new standards.  As part of that process MDE opened two comment periods, one on the proposed new standards and the other on the proposed new frameworks.  The comment period on the frameworks has closed but the comment period on the new standards is open until February 27, 2023.  

The rulemaking process can take up to several years.  Once new standards are approved there will be a multiyear implementation process.  The existing STEM Teachers Center then, with this upgrade, will remain a useful resource for teachers for several more years.