U.S. Department of Education Science Education Validation Grant Offers District Schools Unique Opportunity to Participate in 5-Year Research Study

THE STUDY: The National Science Resources Center (NSRC) of the Smithsonian Institution, together with its strategic partners, has been awarded a $25.5 million U.S. Department of Education Validation Grant, with matching corporate and foundation funds of $7.2 million, to assess the impact of the Leadership Assistance in Systemic Science Education Reform (LASER) Model on student achievement in science among 75,000 urban and rural students in grades 1-8 residing in Houston (Texas), New Mexico, and North Carolina.

The LASER Model, a systemic approach to science learning and teaching, is documented to lead to measurably higher levels of student achievement in science because it addresses not only classroom instruction using a research-based science curriculum with aligned professional development for teachers, but the entire support system needed to provide students with excellent and equitable science education that prepares them for the opportunities of the 21st century economy. LASER consists of five essential elements to support science education reform: (1) a research-based curriculum; (2) materials support for accompanying science kits; (3) differentiated teacher professional development for effective learning and teaching of the curriculum; (4) assessment tools aligned with district and/or state science standards; and (5) ongoing community collaboration with business, government leaders and parent organizations.

Those schools selected to participate in the study will receive up to five years of inquiry-based Science and Technology Concepts (STC®) science units with accompanying state-of-the-art inquiry-based science kits, complemented by 90 hours of teacher professional development, administrator leadership development resources, and strategic planning tools to make 21st century science education sustainable in schools, districts, and states. In addition, LASER offers organizational tools to build an infrastructure that will allow district administrators, principals and teachers to collaborate with local business leaders, community organizations and parent groups to improve the education and, therefore, the life chances of children.

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