Hughes Aircraft Company is contributing up to $15M and a corporate platform to develop the Hughes GALAXY Classroom (SM) targeted for educationally at-risk children in our nation's elementary schools. It is a systematic program to strengthen curriculum through the development of video-based supplementary educational materials distributed, unscrambled, via a dedicated satellite interactive network without commercial advertising. Hughes GALAXY Classroom (SM) includes integrated classroom activities and materials and a strong enhancement program for teachers, administrators, and parents. The three-year demonstration will include two 13-part science video programs (closed captioned, Spanish track) for grades K-2 and 3-5 and comparable programs for English- language arts, broadcast to 37 representative urban and rural elementary schools (and one in Mexico), reaching 190 classrooms and teachers and 6,000 students. Also, included will be hands-on science curriculum materials and substantial formative and independent summative evaluations. The following operational phase will provide an expanded curriculum with a goal of 20,000 schools by the year 2000, supported by public and private funding sources. A prestigious eight-member Science Advisory Board will guide the Project.
