9452884 Radford Three North Louisiana parishes, Caddo, Claiborne, and Bienville, and Louisiana Tech University will collaborate to develop system- wide plans to initiate systemic reform in science instruction. A steering committee consisting of teachers, supervisors, principals, superintendents, university science and science education faculty, the regional service center director, and business and lay persons will oversee the project at the regional level. Additional parish personnel will serve on a task force for each parish. In order to make informed decisions about science reform, data will be collected on successful science instructional strategies. The project will investigate varied science instructional formats such as kit-based science instruction, integrated science programs, technology-based instruction, and appropriate assessment strategies. Nationally recognized experts will address the above areas at general planning meetings involving all three parishes. Selected parish representatives and university personnel will visit exemplary programs chosen by the steering committee. Using what is learned about reform in science, each task force will develop a specific plan for implementation of the chosen instructional programs to bring about systemic reform in science for the parish.
