Training Researchers to Solve Complex Problems in Education One of the main limitations of current graduate programs in education is that

typically those who enter into such programs have limited mathematical knowledge and expertise, making it difficult for them to conduct high quality educational research. It is this limitation that our training grant would address. The training program proposed here aims to attract capable students into this field by focusing on recruitment. Students would be recruited for this training program locally, regionally, and nationally. To recruit locally and regionally, students from Wisconsin and the surrounding areas, who have demonstrated success in statistics and mathematics related coursework, would be recruited to apply for fellowships. To recruit nationally, information about the program would be mailed to Departments of Statistics across the country. Furthermore, information about the program would be posted on list-serves and advertised on websites such as the American Statistical Association, and the National Council of Measurement in Education. The proposed multidisciplinary training program would consist of a collaborative effort between the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and the Department of Mathematical Sciences, which naturally attracts strong quantitative students. It is envisioned that students would receive a doctorate in either Educational Psychology, with a specialization in Research and Evaluation and a minor in mathematics, or a doctorate in Mathematics, with a specialization in Statistics and a minor in education. Both Departments currently have courses in place to support this training grant. The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers courses in Mathematical Statistics, Non-parametric Statistics, Multivariate Statistics, Estimation, and Probability. The Department of Educational Psychology offers coursework in Experimental Design, Structural Equation Modeling, Item Response Theory, Categorical Data Analysis, and Advanced Psychometrics. However, the two departments typically work in isolation. What would be unique about this training program is that students from both departments would come together in courses and seminars to focus on complex problems in Education. Funding for faculty would be used to contribute to recruitment planning and implementation, as well as to develop special seminars for fellowship students. These seminars would focus on current topics in educational research, as well as supplement the current coursework with additional methodological courses, such as Hierarchical Linear Modeling and Factor Analysis. Due to the urban focus of our institution and the relationships we have established with the Milwaukee Community, students would also be provided with the opportunity to consult with various local entities on topics of educational importance. These entities include the Milwaukee Public School District, the Consulting Office for Research & Evaluation, and the Office of Charter Schools. This would provide them with hands on experience solving problems of importance to educational policy makers in an urban district. It is expected that students completing this fellowship program will have both the competency and the training necessary to solve problems and conduct high quality research in education.