The NGSS Early Implementers Initiative was created to help eight California school districts and two charter management organizations, supported by WestEd's K-12 Alliance, implement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Many educational initiatives are funded for only a couple of years. This unique initiative spanned an extraordinary six…

This 13th report in WestEd's evaluation of the K-8 Early Implementers Initiative for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) provides an extensive response to the following question: What does NGSS science teaching look like in the classroom? The report first discusses Initiative teachers' experiences with four instructional practices that…

This comprehensive volume advances a vision of teacher preparation programs focused on core practices supporting ambitious science instruction. The book advocates for collaborative learning and building a community of teacher educators that can collectively share and refine strategies, tools, and practices. A renewed interest in practice-based…

In response to the need to develop leaders to guide the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the Carnegie Corporation of New York provided funding to WestEd to develop a framework that defines the leadership knowledge and actions needed to effectively implement the NGSS. The development of the framework entailed…

Currently, many states are adopting the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) or are revising their own state standards in ways that reflect the NGSS. For students and schools, the implementation of any science standards rests with teachers. For those teachers, an evolving understanding about how best to teach science represents a significant…

Early career science teachers are often assigned to classrooms with high numbers of English language learners (ELLs). For the underprepared early career science teacher, these circumstances are challenging. This study examines the changes in beliefs and practices of an early career science teacher who taught high numbers of ELLs in an urban…

This is a checklist for use by science coordinators, school principals, science supervisors, and teachers in identifying strengths and weaknesses of science programs in grades five through eight. It can also be used by science coordinators during school visits. This guide contains space for recording information concerning: school name and…

Documented shortages of secondary mathematics and science teachers have occurred over a decade. Yet a program developed to enable individuals with academic preparation in mathematics and/or science to become teachers encountered difficulty in placing the students in paid teaching internships. Although benefits to school districts for participating…

This is a checklist for use by science coordinators, school principals, science supervisors, and teachers in identifying strengths and weaknesses of science programs in grades kindergarten through 12. It can also be used by science coordinators during school visits. This guide contains space for recording information concerning: school name and…

Documented shortages of secondary mathematics and science teachers have occurred for over a decade. Yet a program developed to enable individuals with academic preparation in mathematics and/or science to become teachers encountered difficulty in placing the students in paid teaching internships. Although benefits to school districts for…

The purpose of this bulletin is to help teachers, supervisors, administrators, and other educators improve the quality of reading done by junior high school pupils. Interest in ways to teach developmental and remedial reading in the junior high school is nationwide. Junior high school principals and teachers of various subjects are particularly…

Describes a college program of research collaboration with high school teachers and an academic alliance that emerged from the experiences. The background, organization, achievements, and reluctance factors related to the program are discussed. (YP)

This is a checklist for use by science coordinators, school principals, science supervisors, and teachers in identifying strengths and weaknesses of science programs in grades seven through eight. It can also be used by science coordinators during school visits. This guide contains space for recording information concerning: school name and…

This document describes 162 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) educational programs. Each program description has been placed in one of five categories based on a dominant feature or program objective. These include: (1) elementary and secondary (59 programs); (2) university (37 programs); (3) minority outreach (30 programs); (4)…

This guide stems from concern that many classroom teachers have limited exposure to the scientific community in general and to the nature and method of science in particular. It offers guidelines and suggestions to plan, conduct, and evaluate summer mentorship programs and gives practical advice on establishing programs, garnering institutional…