In California we face dual challenges in preparing and developing science teachers: preparing teachers to teach the California Science Standards in a high-stakes accountability system, and preparing teachers to teach high-quality inquiry-based science as recommended in the National Science Education Standards. We believe these goals are not incompatible, though both are challenging.

The Sacramento Area Science Project (SASP) is a site of the California Science Project, the primary state-funded professional development program for science teachers. SASP programs include a three-week summer institute in science, a year-long institute in English language development through science, monthly Wednesday Evening Science Seminars, seven after-school conferences, partnership activities with local schools and districts, and contracted short courses and workshops at school sites. The Sacramento Area Collaborative for Teacher Education (SACTE) is an NSF-funded project to recruit math and science teachers, and to revise math and science courses for preservice elementary teachers at CSUS and the Los Rios Community College District.

The most important shared goal of these projects is developing in teachers a profound understanding of fundamental science. By this we mean a deep comprehension of basic concepts in science. To this end, we encourage a model-building approach to science education, in which students collaboratively build explanations of science phenomena, then apply those explanations to novel situations. We promote the use of alternative forms of assessment such as narrative writing and concept mapping to expose student thinking. The projects also focus on matching assessment carefully to curriculum goals, and encouraging both preservice and inservice teachers to develop a reflective approach to learning and teaching. We are currently building bridges between the programs, finding ways to place preservice teachers in our SASP partnership schools, inviting preservice teachers to SASP conferences, and involving SACTE faculty in our SASP institutes both as leaders and as learners.