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District Support Model (NMSI)

Provided By
National Math & Science Initiative
Two participants lean over microscope slides on a table.

The District Support Model engages teachers, school administrators, and district personnel in programming designed to improve STEM education outcomes and increase college and career readiness for students across the United States. Teachers participate in professional learning experiences, receive coaching support, participate in communities of practice, and gain access to resources to improve their STEM instruction. School administrators and district personnel work with a program support coach to develop and implement a success plan aimed at providing advanced STEM courses as part of a STEM pathways program.

Logic Model

Program Activities

Educators

Teachers participate in professional learning experiences, receiving coaching support, participating in communities of practice, and use resources to improve their STEM instruction.​ 

School administrators and district personnel work with a Program Support Coach to develop and implement a School Success Plan​

Program Near-Term Outcomes

Educators

Teachers gain confidence in their ability to engage students and incorporate hands-on STEM learning experiences in their classrooms​ 

School administrators and district personnel increase their ability to plan for and provide advanced STEM courses as part of a STEM pathways program at their school and/or district ​

DSEC Near-Term Outcomes

Educators

Changes in teacher approaches to teaching STEM concepts, practices, and careers in their classrooms​ 

Increased participant STEM competencies (skills, knowledge, abilities, and confidence)​

Participant Perspectives

Participant perspectives reflect survey responses from 2025-2026, the first year of survey administration.

Of 568 educator participants, 20 responded to the survey.

Educators

  • Disagree
  • Slightly Agree
  • Moderately Agree
  • Strongly Agree
NMSI’s District Support Model improved my skills for engaging students in hands-on STEM learning.
n = 20 valid responses
Program Data

Program data includes participants from both years of Base Period (2024-2025 and 2025-2026). 

Educators

1,222 total educator participants

Educator Type

Category Count %
District Administrator or Staff 31 2.5%
School Administrator 61 5%
Teacher 1,105 90.4%
Other 25 2%

Educator Grade Levels

Military-Connected Educators