Accelerating Impact of Mathematics Pathways in Deep East Texas

The Dana Center is pleased to announce that it has received a grant for $850,000 from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation to support the acceleration of the impact of the Dana Center Mathematics Pathways (DCMP) in Deep East Texas.

Developmental education was designed to help underprepared students gain the skills needed for college success, but national data show that fewer than one in five community college students referred to remediation ever complete a gateway college math course. The Dana Center has taken up the challenge of replacing existing models of developmental and gateway math education with new mathematics pathways that propel students to degrees and postsecondary certifications with labor market value.

The Dana Center will support the acceleration of the DCMP’s impact in Deep East Texas by (1) providing professional learning experiences to campus leadership and faculty to increase institutional scaling of mathematics pathways, (2) facilitating policy discussions to create conditions to scale multiple mathematics pathways, (3) developing tools and resources to support advising structures that facilitate student placement in the mathematics pathway best aligned to their program of study, (4) building faculty capacity to use accelerated math courses to reduce time to completion of college credit-bearing courses, (5) fostering collaboration with school districts to align transition courses with mathematics pathways in higher education, and (6) building the infrastructure to lead mathematics pathways work.

For Deep East Texas, many of the fastest growing occupations require at least an associate’s degree. The region’s college completion rates are far below Texas and national figures. Math is a particular challenge for students in this region—currently, 68 percent of high school seniors are not ready for college math according to Texas Education Agency measures. This work seeks to improve the implementation of the DCMP model and its alignment to the K–12 sector, with the goal of increasing the number of students graduating from high school ready for college math and improving their college success.

About the T.L.L. Temple Foundation

The T.L.L. Temple Foundation works alongside families and communities to build a thriving Deep East Texas and alleviate poverty, creating access and opportunities for all. Since its founding in 1962, the Foundation has invested more than $440 million, primarily to strengthen communities in Deep East Texas.