September, 2014
Pacific Science Center/LASER
1.
Purpose: Washington State LASER is a catalyst for sustainable innovation and improvement in K-12
science education. LASER provides a strong leadership base for science educational reform through
a committed statewide network with sought after products and services which include offering
professional learning opportunities, providing key leadership and critical support for Next
Generation Science Standards, and developing science leaders that Washington state relies on.
LASER also assists school districts with implementing an ongoing, standards-based science program
aligned with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements that emphasizes
these key elements:
 Exemplary inquiry-centered instructional material
 Regular professional development for classroom teachers, administrators and professional
development providers as well as high education science faculty and community stakeholders
 Effective strategies to use science as a vehicle to support reading, writing, communication and
mathematics learning
 Materials support through distribution and refurbishment
 Effective student assessment
 Wide community and administrative support
2.
Description of services provided:
 Supports ten Regional Alliances that:
o Provide a variety of levels of professional learning as well as foundational use and
professional learning to support Next Generation Science Standards
o Ensure the distribution and refurbishment of science materials and equipment
o Purchase instructional materials for use by participating school districts
 Develops a variety of levels of professional development providers to meet the increased
demand for professional development across the state.
 Supports projects that implement multiple, research-based strategies on a school-wide basis
that lead to significant increases in student achievement.
 Works with Regional Alliances and ESD Science Coordinators to enhance the leadership
capacity of school district leaders (e.g. central office administrators, principals, community
leaders, school board members).
 Works with Regional Alliances, ESD Science Coordinators, representatives from higher
education and other key stakeholders (e.g. MESA, WSTA) to build a logic model and theory of
action that leads to a statewide, coherent expectation of what teaching and learning science
should look like in classrooms – and identify the professional development required for
teachers and administrators in order to implement these expectations.
 Works with Regional Alliances and ESD Science Coordinators to offer other specialized
symposia on topics of high need, such as assessment, literacy, role of scientists and engineers,
identifying effective instructional material, aligning instruction to emphasize key science
concepts.
 Enhances the participation of school districts serving underserved populations and regions of
the state.
 Develops electronic networking and information sharing systems via the Internet to link
school district personnel to resources relevant to effective teaching, assessment and
curriculum unit implementation.
 Seeks additional private and federal funding for Washington State LASER activities.
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Organizes awareness events for administrators (e.g. recruit individuals to write articles for
and/or give sessions at WASA and AWSP).
Provides technical assistance and professional development for school districts not affiliated
with a Regional Alliance and provide technical assistance to districts exploring joining
Washington State LASER.
The LASER leadership is a key OSPI partner in the development and transition to the 2013
Washington State Science Learning Standards (Next Generation Science Standards or NGSS) by
hosting regional gatherings of stakeholder to submit feedback on the first and second public
release of the new standards. Washington State LASER provided leadership for the state by
serving on the NGSS state advisory team. They worked with OSPI as a leadership team to
deeply understand A Framework for K-12 Science Education. LASER provides a framework and
the needed ironwork to build the bridge that will carry all students to scientific literacy.
Identifies five Science Education Advocate Awardees and use this award to develop
community recognition for their work and the importance of science education as a critical
element of today’s education effort.
3.
Criteria for receiving services and/or grants:
LASER school districts agree to attend a Strategic Planning Institute and have a strategic plan in
place for implementing a standards-based science education program. LASER Alliance school
districts agree to have all teachers receive a minimum of 54 hours of IUPD over a maximum of three
years.
4.
Beneficiaries in 2013-2014 School Year:
# School Districts:
204
# Schools:
1,861
# Teachers:
52,917
# Students:
960,227 (From OSPI enrollment numbers)
In addition to the 204 member districts, Alliances will train teachers from other districts and from
private schools. In FY14 we estimate that we reached approximately 15 additional districts, and 8
private schools.
5.
FY 14 Funding:
6.
Are Federal or other funds contingent on state funding? Yes. Schools funds are required as a
match for any funding of LASER Alliance schools. Private funds will not be available unless state
funds are also provided.
7.
First year funded: FY02
State Appropriation:
School District (matching) Funds
Corporate Funds:
TOTAL (FY14)
$356,000
$264,614
$155,000
$686,614
State funding since inception:
Fiscal Year
FY 14
Amount
$356,000
2
FY 13
FY 12
FY 11
FY 10
FY 09
FY 08
FY 07
FY 06
FY 05
FY 04
FY 03
FY 02
8.
$356,000
$356,000
$395,000
$1.579 million
$4.079 million
$4.079 million
$1.079 million
$1.079 million
$1.079 million
$1.079 million
$1.079 million
$617 thousand
Number of beneficiaries (e.g., schools, students, districts) since inception:
Fiscal Year
FY 14
FY 13
FY 12
FY 11
FY 10
FY 09
FY 08
FY 07
FY 06
FY 05
FY 04
FY 03
FY 02
# of School
Districts
204
204
204
203
203
192
180
162
140
117
102
93
71
# of
Schools
1861
1886
1886
1,602
1,602
1,508
1,475
1,380
1,293
1,168
1,073
877
710
# of
Students
960,227
954,287
944,679
940,326
940,326
806,444
797,016
750,367
715,648
657,353
607,638
493,321
399,612
9.
Programmatic changes since inception (if any):
 Number of LASER school districts grew from 30 to 204, which serve just over 91% of students
in the state.
 Number of Regional Alliances grew from 4 to 10, so LASER can now serve most of the state
with a network able to implement future efforts.
 Services expanded from elementary to include middle school and continue to expand into
high school.
 Developed leadership teachers and administrators across the state through our Science
Partnership Academy, Strategic Planning Institute, STEM Education Leadership Institute,
National Academy for Curriculum Leadership, worked with the Association of Washington
School Principals, Washington State School Directors Association, Washington Association of
School Administrators, projects to develop Foundational Use Professional Development
Providers and professional learning opportunities around A Framework for K-12 Science
Education and the Next Generation of Science Standards.
10.
Evaluations of program/major findings:
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External evaluation of the STEM Education Leadership Institute show that we are providing
the framework and technical support to those teams in attendance and STEM education is
being implemented in schools, school districts, and regions in attendance.
External evaluation of our work with critical stakeholders such as Association of Washington
School Principals, Washington State School Directors Association, Washington Association of
School Administrators are effective professional learning opportunities for increasing the
awareness of NGSS.
Evaluation of the Science Partnership Academy show that we have impacted how
technology is being used in professional learning opportunities as well as participants
gaining access to resources, ideas, and model for supporting the implementation of
Common Core State Standards.
11.
Major challenges faced by the program: Since the 2008-2009 school year the LASER program
funding reduction has caused a reduction in or elimination of services which were previously
provided. They include:
 Strategic Planning Institutes
 Instructional Materials Showcases
 Evaluation of overall effectiveness of LASER program and student achievement
 Awareness events that built understandings of science education reform and Washington
State LASER process
 Facilitation of formation and operation of small school districts consortia
12.
Statutory and/or Budget language:
Budget Proviso: ESSB 6002, Sec 511 (2) $356,000 of the general fund--state
appropriation for fiscal year 2014 and $356,000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal
year 2015 are provided solely for the Washington state leadership and assistance for science
education reform (LASER) regional partnership activities coordinated at the Pacific science center,
including instructional material purchases, teacher and principal professional development, and
school and community engagement events.
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