Emery Unified School District Strategic Science Plan

Goal 1- Curriculum

The Emery Science Curriculum will effectively support the teaching of the California Science Content Standards through an inquiry process that fosters deep understanding of scientific “big ideas”; develops habits and skills of observation, measurement, critical analysis, and communication; and encourages application of knowledge, use of technological tools, and responsible and ethical scientific practice by:

· Using core and supplemental instructional materials consistent with research about how children learn

· Providing hands-on science activities, field trips, and other direct experiences essential to develop science concepts

· Integrating the science curriculum and instruction with the English Language Arts and Mathematics standards

Objective	Activity	Who	When	Cost	Measure
Objective 1.1: Adopt and purchase standards-based core instruction materials sufficient for each student at each grade level	Activity 1.1.1: Adopt resolution appointed by the BOE	Director of C&I	Aug. 18, 2003	No additional cost	Measure 1.1.1.1: Public record (60119 each year)
	Activity 1.1.2: P/O approved by the state administrator	Director of C&I	Aug. 19, 2003	$11,000 FOSS AY; $8,000 SEPUP/FOSS MS; $10,000 Modeling Physics 9th; $3,500 Chemistry 10/11	Measure 1.1.2.1: Copy of signed P/O
Objective 1.2: Provide hands-on experiences that reflect and support the California State Standards	Activity 1.2.1: Students participate in science related field trips	AY Science Coordinator, ESS Science Teachers	03-04 school year	$4,950 AY, $5,600 ESS	Measure 1.2.1.1: Log/record of field trips
	Activity 1.2.2: Teachers implement hands-on activities in the classroom	Principals	03-04 school year	No additional cost	Measure 1.2.2.1: Principal or coaches observations Measure 1.2.2.2: Anecdotal evidence
	Activity 1.2.3: Elementary students participate in gardening and recycling activities	AY Science Coordinator	03-04 school year	$3,000	Measure 1.2.3.1: Teacher lesson plans
Objective 1.3: Science instruction will integrate English Language Arts, Mathematics, and other content areas where possible	Activity 1.3.1: Teachers will include strategies for addressing English Language Arts and Mathematics standards in their lesson plans	Principals	03-04 school year	No additional cost	Measure 1.3.1.1: Lesson plans Measure 1.3.1.2: Student work
	Activity 1.3.2: UES Grant planning team will create curriculum which includes standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science for the sixth grade waste reduction project.	AY science coordinator	July 29 & 30, 2003 (UES planning conference)	$2,500	Measure 1.3.2.1:Curriculum binder with integrated lesson plans for teachers August 28
	Activity 1.3.3 Elementary teachers will visit the schools in El Centro, specifically focusing on their integration of inquiry based science and the use of writing standards in student science notebooks.	3 AY teachers, 1 parent, 1 community rep	Oct. 2003	$2,500	Measure 1.3.3.1:Minutes of report back to AY staff meeting

Goal 2- Professional Development

EMERY USD teachers will continually develop their skills and knowledge by:

· Mastering a range of strategies to foster inquiry learning in the classroom and address individual learning styles

· Increasing the depth of their knowledge of the science content represented by the standards

· Becoming expert in the use of the adopted instructional materials

· Increasing their proficiency in using assessment to evaluate learning and modify instruction to ensure success for each student

Objective	Activity	Who	When	Cost	Measure
Objective 2.1: All elementary teachers will receive at least 2 hours/month of instruction in inquiry learning and differentiated instruction (6^th grade teachers separate), 4 hours PD and 10 hrs coaching (as needed) in the instructional materials for the grade levels they teach	Activity 2.1.1 One 2-hr PD on Thursday early release/month	AY Principal	03-04 school year	$0 (already planned in SPSA)	Measure 2.1.1.1: Agendas and sign-in
	Activity 2.1.2 One 4-hr PD on Thursday early release	Science Coach	Sep 03	$1,200 teacher stipends & $2,000 providers	Measure 2.1.2.1: Agendas and sign-in
	Activity 2.1.3 Monday afternoon coaches provided in 3 cycles of 5 each	AY Science Coordinator	03-04 school year	$18,000 contracts; $2,000 AY Science Coordinator	Measure 2.1.3.1: Coaching logs and reports
	Activity 2.1.4 6^th grade PD for Recycling Curriculum	AY Science Coordinator	03-04 school year	$1,500	Measure 2.1.4.1: Coaching logs and reports
Objective 2.2: All secondary science teachers (including Special Ed) will receive at least 1.5 hours/week of coaching in inquiry learning and differentiated instruction and the instructional materials for the grade levels they teach	Activity 2.2.1: A science coach will work with ESS science teachers three days/month	Science Coach	03-04 school year	$11,200 (28 days)	Measure 2.2.1.1: Coaching logs and reports
Objective 2.3: All teachers of science have a professional development (PD) plan that addresses the professional development goals of the strategic plan	Activity 2.3.1: Teachers identify and prioritize professional development needs for science (with coaching help)	Science Coach	04-05 school year	$4,400 (11 days)	Measure 2.3.1.1: Each teacher has a plan Measure 2.3.1.2: Each teacher produces evidence of having followed it
	Activity 2.3.2: District will provide PD to staff (teachers and site administrators) on SSP requirements with respect to PD	Director of C&I	August 2004 Buy Back Day	$7,500 stipends	Measure 2.3.2.1: Agendas and sign-in
Objective 2.4: All science teachers, administrators and other people in the school community participate in a district-wide program to educate all staff about inquiry science	Activity 2.3.2: District will provide professional development to staff (teachers andsite administrators) on inquiry science	Director of C&I	August 2004 Buy Back Day	$7,500 stipends	Measure 2.3.1.1: Agendas and sign-in

Goal 3- Materials Support

EMERY USD will establish and maintain an effective materials support program to assist teachers and students by:

· Providing necessary science equipment, materials, and supplies in a timely manner and in ready-to teach condition

· Creating professional and student libraries of science books and supplementary resources

Objective	Activity	Who	When	Cost	Measure
Objective 3.1: Timely delivery of curriculum based on teacher plan for material use	Activity 3.1.1: At grade level planning, teachers create a year-long usage plan formaterials	AY Science Coordinator	October 2003	No additional cost	Measure 3.1.1.1: Anna Yates teacher plan schedule Measure 3.1.1.2: Emery Secondary School school plan
	Activity 3.1.2: Contract for each curriculum to be delivered and ready to teach one week before planned use	Science Coach	October 2003	$2,000	Measure 3.1.2.1: Log of delivery
Objective 3.2: Adequate supplementary science support material in the library	Activity 3.2.1: Develop a science supplementary acquisition plan and circulation	Librarian	Jan 2004	No additional cost	Measure 3.2.1.1: School library plan
Objective 3.3: Science professional development library	Activity 3.3.1: Science team creates a plan for professional development library	Science Coach	Jan 2004	$500 materials	Measure 3.3.1.1: School science professional development library plan

Goal 4- Assessment

EMERY USD teachers will use collaboratively-established formative and summative, standardized and performance assessments to ensure effective learning for all students by:

· Establishing a data-driven science improvement program which collects, disaggregates, and analyzes data to inform instruction, set benchmarks and evaluate improvement

· Using a variety of strategies to continually assess student progress and inform instruction

· Improving achievement on the science portions of the California Standards Tests

Objective	Activity	Who	When	Cost	Measure
Objective 4.1: The Emery Science program has benchmarks for progress and is held accountable for achieving them	Activity 4.1.1: Write an annual report on the status of science teaching/learning in the district and present it to the BOE	District Science Coordinator	annually in October	No additional cost	Measure 4.1.1.1: Published report and BOE minutes
	Activity 4.1.2: Evaluate previous year’s program and set benchmarks for following year	State Administrator/ Board of Education	annually in October	No additional cost	BOE minutes
	Activity 4.1.2: Evaluate previous year’s UES program and set benchmarks for following year	Science Coach	annually in October	$2,500 from UES	Measure 4.1.3.1: Published report and BOE minutes
Objective 4.2: Instruction is continuously adapted to meet students needs	Activity 4.2.1: Each teacher of science will meet with colleagues to review and reflect on student science work.	District Science Coordinator/ Site Science Coordinator	ongoing	No additional cost	Measure 4.2.1.1: Department/SSC logs Measure 4.2.1.3: Teacher reflection Measure 4.2.1.4: Protocol logs Measure 4.2.1.5: Grade level meetings/logs by topic Measure 4.2.1.6: Science team minutes
Objective 4.3: Reduce percentage of students performing below “proficient” on the Science California Standards Tests by 10% each year	Activity 4.3.1: Implement SSP	District Science Coordinator	ongoing	$9,600 (24 days)	Measure 4.3.1.1: STAR test results

Goal 5- Administrative and Community Support

EMERY USD will build a strong and active partnership among the city, EUSD and all segments of the community, so that powerful science learning is a citywide experience and responsibility by:

· District and site administration promulgating and implementing policies consistent with this strategic plan

· Actively engaging parent understanding and involvement in their child’s science program

· Involving government, the business community and institutions of higher education in systemic reform and support for the district science program

Objective	Activity	Who	When	Cost	Measure
Objective 5.1: Parents will be informed three times a year on various science instruction children are using	Activity 5.1.1: Parent communication	Site Science Coordinators	ongoing	No additional cost	Measure 5.1.1.1: Parent committee logs Measure 5.1.1.2: Copies of newsletters
	Activity 5.1.2: School-sponsored public science events	Site Science Coordinators	Scheduled at school sites	No additional cost	Measure 5.1.2.1: All children’s work will be exhibited publicly
Objective 5.2: A communication channel will be created which provides regular interaction between school and community	Activity 5.2.1: Science program issues will be shared through EYSAC and new science partners will be recruited to EYSAC	District Science Team EYSAC Liaison	ongoing	No additional cost	Measure 5.2.1.1: Agendas and sign-ins
Objective 5.3: Provide sufficient financial resources to implement this strategic plan	Activity 5.3.1: Approval of Strategic Science Plan by State Administrator/BOE	State Administrator/BOE	August 2003	Incorporated	Measure 5.3.1.1: No part of this plan will fail for lack of funds
Objective 5.4: Develop and sustain partnerships from science-rich institutions (public and private)	Activity 5.4.1: Formalize and enhance existing partnerships and develop new ones.