The North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership (NCOSP) is a targeted
Math and Science Partnership involving Western Washington University,
Everett Community College, Northwest Indian College, Skagit Valley College,
Whatcom Community College, and 26 predominately rural school districts
seeking to improve science teaching and learning in both K-12 and higher
education through a focus on science education in grades 3-10. University
scientists, supported by curriculum and assessment reform specialists
and master teachers, are creating, implementing, and exploring innovative
content and education courses for future teachers and K-12 professional
development models (both on-campus and building-based) in the context
of reform curricula. The Partnership Districts are planning science programs,
identifying and selecting research-based curriculum materials aligned
with state and national standards, creating a materials support system
to provide classroom ready materials, implementing classroom-based assessments,
preparing teachers to guide students in inquiry-centered science instruction,
and increasing administrative and community understanding of the core
curriculum.
Key components of the NCOSP include strategic planning
to align curriculum to standards, adoption of reform curriculum to enable
students to succeed in challenging courses, engaging superintendents and
guidance counselors in community support, and Principal Support. The
Partnership is implementing a three year Teacher Leadership Academy to
produce a Teacher Leadership Cadre consisting of building-based and district-level
Teacher Leaders and university-based Teachers on Special Assignments (TOSAs)
who work as peers with science faculty in designing the Teacher Leadership
Academy, providing professional development for District Leaders, reforming
science methods courses, and designing a science course sequence for elementary
teachers. District partners attend LASER Curriculum Showcases to assist
in curriculum adoption decisions and LASER Specialized Symposia are offered
for principals, guidance counselors and community members to generate
support from key stakeholders. Principals participate with Teacher Leaders
in Teacher Leadership Academies. Preservice reform is focusing on introductory
science courses targeted for elementary teachers and the alignment of
preservice science curriculum with the needs of K-12 districts, strengthening
both science content and pedagogical knowledge and the connections to
reform curriculum used in the partner school districts. The partner higher
education institutions are implementing a common standards-based yearlong
undergraduate science course sequence for future elementary teachers.
Teacher preparation programs include field experiences in classrooms
with Teacher Leaders who are implementing research-based curricula. Teacher
leaders serve as mentors for student teachers and novice teachers. Teacher
recruitment strategies include scholarship support, future teacher clubs,
and high school teaching academies. A multidisciplinary group of science
faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students is conducting research
on the goals of the project, ultimately examining the impact of science
faculty on curriculum selection and implementation, teacher practice,
and student learning. The project expects to impact 72,000 students
in grades 3 -12, 2,500 preservice students, and 1,140 inservice teachers.
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