The Delaware LSCI: A Systemic Partnership to improve the Teaching and Learning of Science for All Children

The Delaware Local Systemic Change Initiative was formed to help build capacity at the school, district and state level to ensure that all children in grades K–8 have the opportunity to obtain the skills and knowledge needed to meet the expectations of the Delaware Science Standards. The LSC was based on a K–6 pilot that was designed by a team of educators and community representatives after attending a Leadership Training Institute in Elementary Science Education Reform offered by the National Science Resource Center (NSRC) in Washington, D.C. and is based on the NSRC model for systemic reform. The program was an instant success with teachers, students, parents, and administrators.

This led to strong district and school support for continuing and expanding the program. As a result of statewide expansion, a challenging standards-based K–8 science curriculum has been established, adopted, and implemented in all Delaware public schools; a professional development system has been established that provides all Delaware K–8 teachers with access to the content, pedagogical and assessment knowledge and skills required to teach inquiry-based science; student achievement in science has been raised for all students; and the achievement gap between white and minority students has been reduced and in some grade 4 schools has even been eliminated.

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