Science Leadership Support Network - Eastern Region (Year 2)

This project will impact K-12 students in 25 districts (75 participants) in the Eastern Region of the state. As students progress from the primary grades through high school in Kentucky, their performance in science declines on every measure currently being used. This MSP proposal provides an opportunity to partner with a significant number of Kentucky districts to improve student learning in science. The basic structure for the SLSN will consist of six full-day Teacher-Leader meetings during each school year from September 2010 to May 2012 and two consecutive days each June 2011 and 2012. Each district will select an average of three Teacher-Leaders - one elementary, one middle, and one high school - to attend Network meetings. Five, one-hour Webinars will be held with the administrators each month shortly after the Network meetings to further support implementation of practices designed to improve student learning in science. A unique feature of this project will be the submission of proposals from participating districts for targeted assistance from SLSN veteran to work on implementation of Senate Bill 1 requirements. The project will use the Unifying Concept and Big Idea of Energy Transformations from the Science Program of Studies as the focus for the first year. In addition to Energy Transformations, the content focus in year two will include Design and Technology. Effective practices for improving student achievement in science, especially in Energy Transformations, will address the ELA Common Core State Standards for Science/Technical (CCSSS/T) reading and writing. Although all five categories of CHETL will be addressed each year, the Network will place more emphasis on Knowledge of Content and Instructional Relevance in year two.