This 3-year project from the Educational Service Center, Region 16, Belleville, IL, plans to enhance elementary science teaching for the region by combining efforts of teachers, administrators, and parents in 15 elementary schools with the resources of a local institution of higher learning and the technical assistance of the Educational Service Center. Project activities will span 3 years with 5 weeks of course work for leaders each summer and extensive implementation and follow up activities during the school year. The LITES (lead teachers) will be trained in the use of several validated activity-based science curricula, will select course options to improve their science knowledge, and will learn leadership skills to assist other teachers in implementing activity-based science. School teams will be comprised of an administrator, primary, and intermediate teacher. Schools with significant populations of minority students will be given priority. This leadership proposal is appropriate for teacher enhancement because it is designed to enhance the science knowledge and teaching, and develop leadership skills of teams of teachers from participating schools, and because it targets teachers of a needy population. Non-NSF cost-sharing is approximately 39% of the amount requested from NSF.
