Dr. Pamela Harrell and Dr. Colleen Eddy's grant proposal Dallas Xtreem Science and Mathematics Institutes, a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Teacher Quality Grant, was funded for $675,000 over a two-year period. The department of Teacher Education and Administration has put up $136,000 in matching funds (salaries for the courses taught to the new graduate students recruited).

The two PIs will provide staff development training to Dallas ISD teachers in algebra I and geometry and middle school science and biology. They will do this with the assistance of faculty from TWU and Midwestern State along with graduate students in the College of Education at UNT who are master teachers in these areas, and master teachers from DISD not currently graduate students in the COE at UNT. Dr. Robin Henson will be employed as the project evaluator.

The funding will support tuition, fees, and application fee for 80 new graduate students. Each participant in a math or science institute will receive a laptop computers with software.

Science kits developed as part of the 8th Grade Science Module and the 7th Grade Xtreem Science Curriculum will be used for the training. Each kit includes the materials needed to implement the Science Curriculum. The kit includes a digital camera, chemicals, laboratory materials, hoover pucks, UB beads, DVDs, and other materials described in the Science Curriculum.

Biology Kits include items such as DNA models, Dragon Genetics, water test kits, probes, DVD, Sun Safety Kits, and other items described in the Biology Curriculum.

Algebra I Kits developed as part of the XTreem Mathematics Algebra I Curriculum includes a CBL2, TI-Inspire Calculator, TI-Smartview, manipulatives, DVD, and other materials, described in the Algebra I Curriculum.

Geometry Kits include items such as a Geometers Sketchpad, CBL2, CBR2, TI-Inspire Calculator, and manipulatives. Additionally, some luncheons and funds to support conference participation are included in the grant funding. Some of the students will make science field trips to Galveston Bay, Big Ben, and McDonald Observatory.