9618984 Wood This Local Systemic Change project is submitted by a Coalition of nine Delaware School Districts, the State Department of Public Instruction and the Delaware Science, Math and Technology Education Foundation. Support and expertise is drawn from the State Legislature, the school districts, business, industry, and academia. The project will initiate a hands-on science program in all 58 elementary schools in the 9 school districts. Approximately 1800 elementary teachers in the program will receive professional development in order to help them fully implement exemplary curricula; FOSS, Insights and Science and Technology for Children. This program will: * Provide every elementary teacher with 150 hours of professional development linked to exemplary curricula in order to deepen their understanding of science content, strengthen their capacity to teach science and embed science as a central element in the K-6 curriculum. * Build the capacity to sustain science education in every district by developing a network of teacher leaders in every school in the Coalition and creating a core of district Science Specialists throughout the state to support the Lead Teachers. * Foster partnerships with higher education to align pre-service and in-service teacher education. The request is for $5,402,013 for 5 years with cost sharing estimated as $6,700,000.
