This project will be designed to answer three research questions: 1) what are effective strategies at the state level that will improve science curriculum content through the use and articulation of state curriculum standards, the selection of instructional materials and student assessment; 2) under what conditions does state action on curriculum standards, instructional materials and assessment work effectively to support improved curriculum content in schools and districts; and 3) how do these strategies define the role and responsibility of the state education agency in improving the quality of science curriculum. Three states will be studied to identify effective strategies and make comparisons among them for their varying degrees of state initiatives in curriculum and instructional reform and assessment. Five local school districts within each of the three states will be studied to develop a better picture of how state and local strategies are implemented in schools. In addition, two surveys will be conducted to identify existing information on current policies in all 50 states that are designed to upgrade science and mathematics curriculum and assessment; and to identify existing curriculum and assessment practices and state roles in all districts within the three states selected for in-depth analysis. These two survey results will be used to select the three states and 15 local districts that will be included in the study. Districts will be selected to reflect varying levels of success on the state's science assessment, SES and size. They will also be selected based on the extent to which they are implementing state strategies based on the State Education Agency recommendations as reflected in the district survey findings. A five member advisory committee comprised of a nationally recognized academic science educator, two state education agency science supervisors, a representative of a regional educational laboratory, and a state assessment director, will be formed to guide the development of the field researcher's strategy and to select the states and districts that will form the basis of the study.
