Media Advisory 06-006
Panel Reviews a Decade of Math and Science Education Reform

March 2, 2006

After ten years of observing and interviewing teachers of science, mathematics and technology, Horizon Research, Inc. of Chapel Hill, NC, is releasing Lessons from a Decade of Mathematics and Science Reform: the first comprehensive evaluation of the National Science Foundation's $250 million investment in the Local Systemic Change through Teacher Enhancement Initiative (LSC).

As its name suggests, the LSC program seeks to improve science and mathematics education by providing in-depth, content-specific professional development to large numbers of teachers. Since its launch in 1995, a total of 88 LSC projects have been implemented in 31 states, providing professional development to 70,000 teachers in 4,000 schools in 467 districts—urban, rural, and suburban.  The payoff, as detailed in the report, is improved quality of mathematics and science lessons, grades K-12.  Moreover, many of the successful projects have become models for sustainable, ongoing programs.

Although this publication is based upon work supported by NSF, any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations it contains are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

What: Release of Lessons from a Decade of Mathematics and Science Reform, an assessment of NSF's Local Systemic Change through Teacher Enhancement Initiative

When: Monday, March 6, 2006 10:00 a.m.
           Coffee at 9:30 a.m.

Where: Zenger Room
             13th Floor, National Press Club
             529 14th Street NW
             Washington DC

Program:

• Introduction
  Barbara M. Olds
  Acting Division Director
  Division of Elementary, Secondary, & Informal Education (EHR/ESIE)
  Directorate for Education and Human Resources
  National Science Foundation
  
• Key Findings from the Study of LSC Teacher Professional Development
  Iris R. Weiss
  President, Horizon Research, Inc.
  Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  
• LSC in Action
  Michael Klentschy
  Superintendent, El Centro School District
  El Centro, California
  
• Building Capacity through Statewide Support:
  The Asset Science Education Model, Pittsburgh, PA
  Ms. Diane Castelbuono
  Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  Pennsylvania Department of Education
  
• Disseminating Key Research to the Field
  Donald Thompson
  Acting Assistant Director
  Directorate for Education and Human Resources
  National Science Foundation
  
• Strengthening America's Leadership in Innovation Through Mathematics and Science Education
  Brian K. Fitzgerald
  Executive Director
  Business Higher Education Forum
  
• Question and Answer session

-NSF-

Media Contacts
Marianne Smith, Horizon Research, Inc. (510) 530-9916 msmith@pdmathsci.net

Related Websites
The LSC report: http://www.pdmathsci.net

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of $6.06 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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