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The Texas Science Initiative

The Texas Science Initiative. The Office of Education Initiatives In Collaboration with The Department of Programs and Standards Curriculum Division Christi Martin Gina S. Day Chris Castillo-Comer Irene Pickhardt. Texas Science Initiative FY06 (proposed). The Need

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The Texas Science Initiative

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  1. The Texas Science Initiative The Office of Education Initiatives In Collaboration with The Department of Programs and Standards Curriculum Division Christi Martin Gina S. Day Chris Castillo-Comer Irene Pickhardt

  2. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Need • Increasing accountability for student science performance demands a well-executed and defined series of solutions to provide scientifically research-based professional development for science educators, intensive intervention for students performing below state standards and high quality, reliable instructional materials, including valid assessment tools, for use in the classroom.

  3. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Goal • The primary objective is to improve the academic performance in science at all levels of schooling so that students are prepared for post-secondary success. The initiative will bring a community of education leaders and policy makers together to establish a plan for the initiative, conduct a needs analysis of the current state of science education in Texas, and recommend action steps for responding to those needs with scientific research-based professional development, intervention strategies and classroom materials.

  4. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Criteria • The initiative has contracted with Texas A&M University Associate Dean, Dr. Timothy Scott to conduct a meta-analysis of national research on science teaching for the purpose of defining what has been proven to improve student learning and to develop a publication designed to share that information with educators across the state.

  5. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Criteria • This research will be the criteria to evaluate state-owned or licensed professional development and instructional materials to determine which products should be made immediately available and which products require additional work to ensure integrity and reliability.

  6. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Criteria • A Science Field Inventory will be carried out to collect local data on teacher quality, on the validity and depth of professional development for teaching science, and of classroom instructional materials. Results of the Field Inventory will be mapped against science performance across the regions of the state for purposes of a reliable needs assessment to target resources appropriately.

  7. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Criteria • Rigorous, objective ongoing evaluation of all aspects of the initiative will be conducted for the purpose of clearly detailing what is working and what is not. The evaluation will be able to directly link accomplishments of the initiative to established performance measures and will allow policy makers to establish new goals and objectives of the Science Initiative.

  8. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Incentive • Clear benchmarks and statewide performance measures that demonstrate significant academic improvement in science will be established and will be directly related to each program of the Initiative.

  9. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Incentive • A 5-year plan for the Science Initiative to take the state from where it currently stands to an irrefutably exceptional science education system will be adopted by science educators and other statewide stakeholders.

  10. Texas Science Initiative FY06(proposed) The Incentive • Funds will be identified to disseminate scientific research-based professional development to PK-12 teachers of science, establish programs for student intervention, and to provide high quality instructional and diagnostic assessment materials to educators in the classroom.

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