A partnership of school, university, and industry people will carry out a multipronged program to demonstrate how elementary science education can be strengthened through a well designed cooperative effort. Elements of the program are: A Science Resource Network of industrial scientists will be created to support elementary teachers in a variety of ways. Elementary teacher Science Specialists will work with each school to demonstrate the various models for use of this kind of teaching approach. Science-weak elementary teachers will be able to volunteer as Science Fellows for special training programs to overcome those weaknesses. Permanent Elementary Sciences Alliances of elementary teachers, other school and industry people, and university professors will be formed to provide a reinforcing mechanism for the elementary teachers. A program of Incentives and Awards will be established to recognize exemplary elementary science teaching. The partnership will undertake appropriate Science Education Advocacy activities. The goal of the project is to demonstrate how a comprehensive community supported program can lead to major improvements in elementary science teaching. Cost sharing by the partners will total a minimum of 23 % of the NSF funding.
