MAKING INQUIRY-BASED EARTH SCIENCE RELEVANT AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LOS ANGELES: LOS ANGELES SCIENCE EDUCATION REFORM SYSTEM (LASERS)

The Los Angeles Science Education Reform System (LASERS) is a comprehensive systemic plan based on California Science Standards and Framework, National Science Foundation (NSF) funded curriculum, and NSF professional development models, and national efforts to make science accessible to all students. It is a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Science Initiative that aligns with the District’s Theory of Action for improving science teaching and learning in grades K-12. Layers of support are developed and integrated between different levels of need ranging from administration to the classroom. This plan develops expert resources and structured support within LAUSD. The plan targets the 9th grade Integrated Coordinated Science 1 (ICS1) course. It’s About Time’s ICS curriculum comprised of American Geological Institute’s EarthComm, Dynamic Geosphere; Active Physics; Active Chemistry; and Active Biology were developed through the IMD Division of NSF. During 2003, ChevronTexaco and the American Geological Institute’s implementation of EarthComm has launched a major reform effort in LAUSD. This reform effort lead to the development of additional support through the creation of a fulltime LAUSD Science Educator supporting the LASERS plan, administrator workshops, pre-service teacher trainer seminars, and mentorship programs. The pre-service component will sustain the implementation with teachers who are already trained in the pedagogy and content. In the 2004-05 school year, 400 science teachers will receive training for each of the curricula: EarthComm, Active Physics, Active Chemistry, and Active Biology. A team of science educators from AGI, It’s About Time, and LAUSD will develop and mentor a leadership cadre over the first two years. In the third and following years LAUSD-ICS Leaders or Science Curriculum Leaders will conduct follow-up, additional training, and new teacher mentoring. LASERS and the internal support developed within LAUSD will improve the quality of science education for all students.