I think ways to measure progress changes as the project evolves. In my second project I have learned to "trust the process". Rather than pushing for NSF curricula use and adoption before the teachers were ready I have instead subtly and strategically introduced materials as "available". Within the first year 2 districts adopted NSF curricula at at least one level, and as we near the end of the second year all 4 districts have adopted NSF curricula at at least one level and 2 have adopted at all 3 levels !

I am learning to measure progress by looking at the amount of reform talk that is going on between and among people; how many initiatives are being developed and implemented within a district without the direct support (financially or in terms of human effort) of the project; I have learned to measure progress by the issues that get raised by teachers and administrators and by their request for support by the project staff. I know that these are non-traditional ways of measuring progress but I think they may hint at our progress towards developing the capacity for sustainability and what Mark St. John is calling "an infrastructure for improvement".