LASER Middle School Symposium

Overview

The LASER Middle School Science Education Symposium prepares school district leadership teams to implement hands-on, inquiry-centered science programs and to bring about systemic reform of science education in middle schools.

The next Middle School Science Education Planning Symposium will be held December 5–9, 2006 in Birmingham , AL . This is an intensive planning meeting designed to guide school district leadership teams through the process of developing tailored strategic plans for initiating and implementing effective inquiry science programs for middle schools. Application form , brochure.

The NSRC leadership institutes build upon 20 years of leadership development to advance science education reform in the country and throughout the world. Since 1989, leadership teams representing more than 800 school districts have participated in NSRC institutes. (See Past Participants ) These school districts are in various stages of implementation of the strategic plans they developed at the institutes. Together, these school districts enroll more that 20% of the U.S. student population. In addition to the U.S. teams, representatives from nine different countries and U.S. territories have taken part in NSRC institutes.

Who should attend?

All school districts that apply for participation in the Symposium must identify a four to six-person leadership team. Team members must demonstrate that they collectively have the skills, commitment, and credibility to lead a science education reform initiative in their community.

Each team should include:

• A school district administrator. The participation of the Superintendent of Schools has proven critical to the success of past teams. If the Superintendent is unable to participate, a designated administrator who has decision making authority should be on the team.
• Two experienced teachers – an elementary school teacher and a middle school teacher - with demonstrated leadership skills.
• A senior scientist from a local corporation, college or university, museum, or federal research facility who will work with the district to develop community support for science education reform.

What are the benefits of attending?

Only one in four U.S. students scored “proficient” of height in science on the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The implications of this level of science knowledge are sobering: future shortages of U.S. scientists and engineer, an electorate unable to distinguish between emotional and rational points of view, and public discourse lacking in scientific perspective.