The NSRC’s LASER Center

The NSRC’s Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) Center is nationally and internationally recognized for the quality and impact of its leadership development work on the improvement of K-12 science education.  In the United States, the LASER Center’s long-term goal is to educate leaders representing education, science, business, and government to change the prevailing culture of K-12 science education programs in school districts representing over 50% of the nation’s student population.

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NSRC Theory of Action

The NSRC’s Theory of Action, depicted below, advocates that the foundation of all reform is knowledge of scientifically-based research and best practices that should be used to develop a shared vision and an infrastructure for reforming science education programs for all students in districts and states.

The NSRC LASER Model

One critical aspect of the NSRC Theory of Action is the establishment of an infrastructure needed to support learning. To establish an effective infrastructure, leaders need to have a shared vision of effective science learning and teaching and implement five essential components simultaneously. The NSRC has defined this system as the NSRC Science Education Systemic Reform Model, which is illustrated below.

During the past two decades, the National Science Resources Center has developed differentiated products and services with many organizations and individuals to assist districts, regions, states, and countries in moving through these stages.  Employing this LASER Model during the past two decades, the LASER Center has impacted school districts and states serving over 30% of the U.S. student population.