Catalyzing Change in Science Education in California

TRENDING

TUESDAYS!

Agenda

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Welcome, Connection, Agreements

CA Science Education Trends and Needs

Catalysts for Change

Plans, Opportunities, and Resources

Welcome

The CAL-MSCS vision is to ensure that each and every California educator experiences the professional learning and support they need to provide a high-quality mathematics, science, and computer science education for all California students.

The California Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science Partnership (CAL-MSCS) is a comprehensive, multi-agency system designed to provide a sustainable, impactful professional learning infrastructure for mathematics, science, and computer science educators from across the state.

Support coordination among other educator professional development initiatives

Support local efforts to improve family and community engagement

Generate and disseminate professional learning opportunities

Expand existing statewide infrastructure and capacity

CAL-MSCS Goals

As written in the RFA by CDE

Content

Steering

Teams & Coalitions

Statewide Programming

Local Teams

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Partnerships

System Coherence

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING STRUCTURES

CONNECTOR

Activity

Your Name

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Organization

What person, place, or thing has inspired you recently?

The CAL-MSCS vision is to ensure that each and every California educator experiences the professional learning and support they need to provide a high-quality mathematics, science, and computer science education for all California students.

• “Science is an essential tool for solving the greatest problems of our time and understanding the world around us.”

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• For over a decade, the importance of giving students pathways into STEM professions has guided STEM education in the United States. Efforts have largely been focused on inspiring students to pursue STEM careers.

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• This emphasis can lead to programs that target select groups of students and may overlook the importance of science and mathematics as foundational disciplines for all students.

Call to Action

National Academy of Sciences, 2021

Science Education in CA

The majority of California students have little if any exposure to science while in elementary school, not all middle school students receive a full three years of science and the state requires successful completion of only two science courses at the high school level

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As a result, marginalized

student groups are not offered science learning opportunities in the elementary grades

and attend secondary schools that are, on average, less likely to offer advanced science

courses that satisfy the A-G courses required for admission eligibility to California’s

public universities.

Importance of Science Education

For many, the decision to study STEM starts before college.

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• Nearly 4 in 5 STEM college students (78%) say that they decided to study STEM in high school or earlier. One in five (21%) decide in middle school or earlier.
• More than half (57%) of STEM college students say that, before going to college, a teacher or class got them interested in STEM.
• This is especially true of female students (68% vs. 51% males), who give “a teacher or class” as the top factor that sparked their interest.

Data Chat

Children Now Report 2024

A Catalyst for Change

CA Science Education Catalysts for Change

March 2024

Fall 2024

Fall 2025

Science on the Dashboard

SBE approved science on the dashboard

Posting Science Metric on 2024 Dashboard

Anticipated posting of Science Indicator with full color

Dashboard Discussion

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How might we leverage this opportunity to increase access to equitable learning opportunities and experiences in science education?

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How might this inform our planning and implementation of science?

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bit.ly/ScienceTrendingPadlet

STATEWIDE NEEDS, CONCERNS, CURIOSITIES

CA Science Education Needs Discussion

Which of these themes resonates for you in your context?

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From your vantage point, what supports would be most beneficial to your system?

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bit.ly/ScienceTrendingPadlet

What are you inspired to explore more in science?

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Family & Community Engagement Science Resources

Math-Science-Computer Science Integration

Elementary Science Support

Leadership Capacity Building

Administrator Support

Other

Future CAL-MSCS Opportunities and Resources

• Trending Tuesdays (ongoing)
• Statewide Science CoP Launch (Nov. 7th)
• in partnership with the CASE Conference (Nov. 8-10)
• Administrator Science Support Network (launches Fall 2024)
• Science Leader Professional Learning Series (launches Fall 2024)

Feedback Survey

Link:

https://bit.ly/CALMSCSscience

Add your name to our distribution list to stay connected!

Upcoming Trending Tuesdays (4-5 PM)

Zoom Link:

https://bit.ly/TrendingTuesdays

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Audience:

Classroom Teachers, Teacher Leaders, TOSAS, Site & District Admin, COE Staff, Community Based Partners!

Social Media

Instagram

@calmscs

Facebook

California Mathematics, Science, Computer Science Partnership

Closure & Next Steps

What’s next for our work to support science education in California???

How we might best use our roles and influence to support the movement towards equitable access to high quality science teaching and learning in all systems?

THANK YOU

calmscs@sjcoe.net

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https://bit.ly/CAL-MSCS