Coalition Support Services

Established coalitions turn to NASSMC for assistance in assessing, refining, and sustaining their work. Many requests for assistance are unique to current "hot topics" related to improvement of the mathematics, science, and technology education (MSTE) systems of a small number of states. In such cases, NASSMC's task is to locate print and/or human resources that will help state leaders lay out strategic options, draft model legislation or other documents, or mount a program to confront a major issue (e.g., engage the public in supporting MSTE standards). However, some support services respond to the ongoing needs of all states. Actions requested in the support of established coalitions include, but are not restricted to, combinations of the following.

• Provide a model of systemic improvement of MSTE that is sufficiently general that it can be adapted for application within any given state while providing a framework for discussion, planning, and evaluation across states.
• Assist state leaders in the development of a scheme for assessing the progress of a coalition against its reform goals and/or the MSTE reform goals of the state.
• Assist coalition leaders in the periodic revision of strategic plans.
• Broker expert assistance required as coalitions implement their strategic plans.
• Identify and disseminate effective models of coalition development.
• Create and disseminate (via the Internet) documents such as lexicons, quotation collections, and checklists useful in coalition development.
• Prepare and disseminate (via the Internet) frequent, timely, and compact information regarding the treatment of MSTE by the national media.
• Prepare and disseminate (via the Internet) timely, objective summaries of studies and position papers on MSTE generated by national organizations.
• Prepare and disseminate (via the Internet) annotated references to publications available on the Web.
• Provide coalition leaders with copies of print and video materials judged useful to coalition development.
• Maintain a Web site of reviewed/selected documents and reviewed/selected linkages designed to address the needs and interest of coalition leaders.

These services are provided by NASSMC staff, by members of existing state coalitions, and by representatives of organizations that are partnering with NASSMC. They have been financed through a combination of federal agencies, private foundations, and state sources.