Members of the Western Pennsylvania Regional LASER Site have identified more than 225 potential client school districts.

The Western Pennsylvania Regional LASER Site is a partnership that builds on two initiatives:

• ASSET (Allegheny Schools Science Education and Technology) Inc. ASSET, the lead organization, is an independent nonprofit organization initiated by Bayer Corporation in 1992. The organization achieves its mission of science education reform by sharing resources and expertise and through regional partnerships. Its program includes the provision of quality hands-on curriculum materials, a system of ongoing professional development, centralized materials support, aligned and performance-based assessment, and community involvement. In southwestern Pennsyslvania, 66 school districts are actively involved in reforming the way children learn science.

Three affiliate organizations have grown out of ASSET and LASER and serve surrounding county districts: ASSET Beaver County, Science Matters, Inc., and ScienceWISE.

Key partners in the regional LASER initiative include the Principals Academy at the University of Pittsburgh, the EPI (Education, Policy and Issues) Center, and the NSF-funded Collaboratives for Excellence in Teacher Preparation–PA initiative based at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and supporting all 14 state-funded universities in their efforts to reform science teaching toward a more constructivist model. Additional regional partners include Bayer Corporation, the Carnegie Science Center, the Math and Science Collaborative, the School Performance Network, and the organizations and corporations represented on the ASSET Board of Directors.

• The Capital Area Institute for Mathematics and Science. The Capital Area Institute for Mathematics and Science was established through the Capital Area Math/Science Alliance in partnership with the Council for Public Education in Harrisburg. The Institute utilizes local resources in the implementation of programs for schools and teachers as part of an effort to coordinate and focus the efforts toward mathematics and science education reform in central Pennsylvania.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Pennsylvania Department of Education serves as a key partner to both initiatives and their efforts to bring about systemic change in science education.

For additional information about the Western Pennyslvania Regional LASER Site and its programs and activities, contact:

Reeny D. Davison
ASSET Inc.
Executive Director
290 Corliss Street
Center City Terminal
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220
412-771-2121
Email Address: [email protected]