PI: Hawkins, James The GARY INITIATIVE is a plan to improve the quality and quantity of science and mathematics education received by all students in Gary. It brings together the Gary Community School Corporation, five higher education institutions, the business community, parents, and the Gary Accord. The Gary Community School Corporation is a minority- majority urban system located in Gary, Indiana, a city of 116,500 persons. Gary is located at the southern tip of Lake Michigan and is surrounded by resources from the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, steel mills, and those of the greater Chicago area. Three aspects of Gary community demographics which are important in this project are ethnic composition of the community, the out migration of people, and the economics of the Gary community. The population of Lake County is 32 percent African-American; the school population of Gary is approximately 96 percent AfricanAmerican. Gary graduates have low SAT scores and test below state and national norms in science and mathematics. This project is specifically intended to increase performances in science and mathematics. This comprehensive and systemic plan is a system-wide initiative that will impact all students. The school system currently has 20,600 students in 22 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 6 high schools, an alternative middle school, an adult education center, and a career center. The plan supports the district objectives to increase the number of minority students enrolling in and successfully completing pre-college courses which will lead them to pursue undergraduate programs in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (SMET). The objectives are: 1 . To align the PreK-12 science and mathematics curricula to national standards, state proficiencies and competencies. 2. To enhance PreK-12 teachers' knowledge of science and mathematics and e nhance their use of instructional strategies which insure student success. 3. To increase to 30% the proportion of students who enroll in and successfully complete Algebra I by grade B. 4. To increase to 50% the proportion of students who currently enroll in and successfully complete three or more years in both science and mathematics starting with the gateway courses of Algebra I and Biology 1. 5. To increase the proportion of students who meet the standards of the state proficiency tests. 6. To increase the proportion of students who meet national norms on citywide subject specific tests in science and mathematics. 7. To provide opportunities for student enrichment in science and mathematics within and outside of the school environment. 8. To establish a parent network which will facilitate a partnership of parents, teachers, and students. 9. To extend and enhance partnerships with community, business, and educational agencies. We will meet these objectives by: Revising the PreK-1 2 science and mathematics curricula to meet the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards, National Science Education Standards (NSES), and state proficiencies and competencies. Providing staff development to align instruction with national standards for teaching science and mathematics. Implementing instructional models in science and mathematics that incorporate unit planning, performance-based activities, assessment, and cooperative learning. Upgrading PreK-12 science and mathematics departments with equipment, materials, supplies, and other resources needed for inquiry-based science and mathematics teaching. Expanding student enrichment activities, for grades PreK-12 for after-school, weekend and summer programs such as science and mathematics clubs, Family Science/Math Nights, and academic competitions. Providing and strengthening partnerships and mentorsh ips with community, business, and education. Providing parent and community networks to facilitate the objectives of this proposal.
