Executive Director, National Science Resources Center

Seemingly oblivious to our nation's crisis in K-16 science education, American citizens and the majority of K-16 educators appear to be unaware of the dangerous long-term consequences posed by the declining quality of STEM education, including its impact on our students being able to function in the 21st century, our economic development, global competitiveness, and the health of our democracy. In all probability, the general public not only values but also has more in-depth understanding of the American Idol competition than scientific and technological innovations that significantly define the quality of their daily lives and futures. The challenges for Washington and all states are to change these social values through the articulation of a new vision and the implementation of a systemic plan for transforming K-16 science education programs for all students.

As the leader of a national organization that has an understanding of the progress states are making in addressing these challenges, I/we view Washington State as serving as a model to the United States for the potential this state has to significantly transform K-16 science education programs for all students. Leaders from Washington State have consistently demonstrated how to develop a shared vision and obtain long-term support from a broad base of leaders representing education, government, business, parent organizations, and other community and state group that have a stake in this agenda. Washington State has the visionary leadership coupled with a long-term strategic plan, sustained efforts to establish a world-class infrastructure, and a focus on building the leadership capacity for ensuring sustainability that will lead to social change. This social change will result in individual prosperity and life-long learning for all K-16 students, the development of a competitive workforce in the state, the maintenance of an informed government, and the sustainability of our democracy.

For the past two decades, the NSRC has played a strategic role in contributing to the improvement of K-16 science education programs in Washington State. As a part of this work, I worked on behalf of the NSRC to form a strategic partnership with Washington State in 1998 as a part of its Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) Center. The focus of this work was to develop and implement a long-term strategic plan for reforming K-16 science education programs for all students. Outlined below is a brief summary of some of those efforts.

Improving Public Understanding of Importance of K-16 Science Education

• Building Awareness for New Vision of Reform. The NSRC worked with Washington State to plan and conduct "New Vision Conferences" for several hundred diverse leaders as a part of the long-term strategic plan. These leaders played a critical role in catalyzing and initiating systemic reform efforts in the state that have been sustained during the past decade.
• Developing a Shared Vision and Strategic Planning with District Leadership Teams to Initiate Reform. When the NSRC began working with Washington State on the development and implementation of strategic plan, a handful of districts served as models for implementing a systemic approach of science education programs based on research and promising practices. Building upon these experiences, the NSRC worked with the Washington State Leadership Team to develop and execute annual week-long Washington State K-8 Science Education Strategic Planning Institutes for school district leadership teams. These Institutes played a critical role in the development of a shared vision and strategic plans for reform with district leadership teams comprised of administrators, teachers, and community officials representing higher education, corporations, foundations, and non-profits organizations. To date, the districts that have participated in these leadership development efforts represent more than 70% of the student population. In addition, the NSRC helped Washington State build leadership capacity to implement and sustain these Institutes.

Enabling and Influencing Others to Act in the Interests of Science Education and Its Reform and Engaging Participants and Investors in Science Education

• Business Involvement. During the initial stages of implementing the Washington State strategic plan, the NSRC worked with the state leaders to engage the business community in this work. The NSRC engaged members of its National Advisory Board and its corporate and foundation sponsors to work with Washington State to assist with this process.
• Disseminating the Washington State Model. The NSRC advocated that Washington State be cited as a "best practice" model in the National Research Council's Rising Above the Gathering Storm report that has resulted in significant attention at the national and state levels. The NSRC has also provided Washington State leaders with annual opportunities to showcase their work to scale best practices for reforming K-12 science education programs. These annual opportunities included NSRC and other national conferences of leaders representing education, government, and business. For these events, the NSRC has presented Washington State as a model to the nation for other states and regions to study and to benefit from their experiences and approach to reform. The most recent example included the 2007 National Leadership Symposium for State Leadership Teams. Eighteen state leadership teams attended the Symposium the NSRC conducted in partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officer, the Hunt Institute for Policy and Educational Leadership, and three major corporations – Intel, IBM, and DuPont. A DVD summarizing this event, including a presentation by Terry Bergeson and Jeff Estes showcasing the work of Washington State, is being disseminated to leaders of all states. These opportunities have been provided to enhance Washington State's position to sustain current and obtain new support for their efforts.