Centering families in mathematics teacher preparation: a conference for families, prek-5 teachers, mathematics teacher educators, and teacher candidates

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings awarded $199,999 to the National Association For Family, School And Community Engagement, Inc. on September 15, 2025, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076). This Project Grant supports a conference initiative designed to improve how teacher preparation programs equip PreK-5 educators to engage families in children's mathematics learning. The deliverables include an in-person convening followed by two virtual workshops that bring together mathematics teacher educators, PreK-5 classroom teachers, families and caregivers, and mathematics teacher candidates to explore community-engaged mathematics teacher preparation models and the competencies necessary for elementary teachers to meaningfully involve families in mathematics instruction.

The project addresses a critical gap in teacher preparation by examining promising approaches and methods for preparing mathematics teachers to effectively engage families, ultimately strengthening family-school partnerships and fostering success in mathematics and STEM careers. Through multi-stakeholder participation and dialogue, the conference seeks to promote equitable educational practices and generate evidence-based insights that can inform future teacher preparation program development. The project is scheduled for completion by August 31, 2026.

Abstract

This conference seeks to improve how teacher preparation programs equip educators to engage families in prek-5 children?s math learning by bringing together math teacher educators, prek-5 classroom teachers, families/caregivers, and mathematics teacher candidates. The conference topic is important because while family engagement in mathematics is highly predictive of children?s mathematical outcomes, teachers? Family engagement responsibilities are rarely addressed in teacher preparation programs. Beginning with an in-person gathering and followed by two virtual workshops, the conference will elevate models of community-engaged mathematics teacher preparation and explore the competencies that elementary grade teachers must develop to meaningfully engage families in mathematics. By highlighting the voices of families, pre- and in-service teachers and university faculty, the project ultimately seeks to strengthen family-school partnerships, foster success in math and stem careers for all students, promote the progress of science, and support the nation?s prosperity by fostering inclusive and equitable educational practices. The proposal is supported by the discovery research prek-12 program (DRK-12), an applied research program that seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (stem) by prek-12 students and teachers. Projects in the DRK-12 program build on fundamental research in stem education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for funded projects. Across the in-person and virtual convenings, the diverse group of participants will address four main research questions including: 1. What promising approaches and methods currently exist in the landscape of preparing mathematics teachers for family engagement? 2. What competencies do families, mathematics teacher educators, and mathematics teachers themselves believe are necessary for mathematics teachers to develop to engage families equitably and effectively in their children?s mathematics education? 3. How can mathematics teacher educators best prepare mathematics teachers during coursework and clinical experience for their work with families and communities? 4. What are the key priorities and next steps that could inform a collaborative research project around the preparation of mathematics teachers for family and community engagement? The conference also explores promising family engagement practices, identifies essential teacher competencies, and proposes next steps in advancing teacher preparation for family engagement in children?s math learning, with special attention to elevating families? Voices. Recordings and transcriptions of in-person and virtual sessions, post-event surveys, and other artifacts will be thematically analyzed. Expected outcomes include a framework for math teacher education and scholarly collaborations on the topic including future DRK-12 research proposals on the topic. A research-practice network and project webpage hosted by the center for family math will afford future collaboration and dissemination opportunities. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.