9550038 Sandler Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) in collaboration with Inverness Reqearch Associates and Horizon Research, Inc., will form a collaborative with education and community leaders who are currently involved in long-term efforts to reform science education. Over five years, the Center will support the initiation, implementation, and institutionalization of district- wide, K-8 science education reform efforts in school districts nationwide. The primarily activities of the Center will be Site-specific consultation and support, and Institutes and Seminars focusing on critical issues, common interests and role-specific challenges. These institutes will provide opportunities for participants to capitalize on cross-district sharing and collaboration. Specifically the Center will: 1) Provide assistance, consultation and professional development activities for at least 15 large school districts who are beginning the science education reform process. The Center will help them to develop and effectively implement a strategic plan for district-wide science reform focusing on building leadership capacity to sustain and institutionalize quality science instruction. 2) Provide professional development activities for districts with reform programs already in progress. These cities will participate in the Center as leaders, as well as, participants in professional development opportunities. 3) Develop and support a cadre of education leaders from the districts participating in Center activities. These specialists will become leaders for others implementing science education reform nationwide. 4)Establish a coalition among all participating districts who are engaged in district-wide reform of science so that by the end of the five years, there will be a self-sustaining permanent network of district communicating with one another and working together with the capacity to provide continuing assistance to additional districts attempting to reform th eir science education programs. The cost sharing for the project will be 34% of the NSF portion. ***
