Lab-Aids Kits / SEPUP Issue-Oriented Science

Our Partners

SEPUP and Lab-Aids work with various federally-funded projects to help reform the school science program at the local level. We provide technical assistance to these projects, who in turn provide a menu of services for local districts, including curriculum showcases, support in curriculum evaluation and implementation, and coaching and professional development.

For more information, click on the individual projects.

LASER (www.si.edu/nsrc)
National Science Resource Center, Washington, DC

The Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) works to reform K-8 science teaching and learning through systemic planning across the country. Working with regional hubs, the project offers a variety of technical assistance and support, and has produced a variety of programs and publications to help local districts.

The SCI Center
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), Colorado Springs, CO

The Science Curriculum Improvement (SCI) Center is a program of the BSCS. Through the National Academy of Curriculum Leadership (NACL), the program seeks to reform high school (9-12) science teaching through a variety of professional development projects, publications, and detailed planning/implementation tools.

EDC K-12 Center (csedev.edc.org)
Education Development Center, Newton, MA

The K-12 Center seeks to develop local capacity for science teaching and learning, K-12, primarily to either rural or previously underserved areas of the country. A wide variety of technical support and planning services are available, including initial and follow-up planning seminars.

Look What Teachers
Are Saying...

Renee Carson is the Middle Level Science Specialist for the Little Rock School District. She has taught middle and junior high school for the past 30 years. She received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in 1998. Renee has given workshop for SALI and IEY at Regional and National Conferences. She will be working with the teachers in South Carolina this summer. Rene' has trained teachers in her district in both SALI and IEY courses. Renee is leading the way in Arkansas to making the changes towards standards-based, hands-on science for the middle school student. SEPUP and Labs-Aids are making the difference for our students.

She has attended two SEPUP Leadership Conference; one in Berkeley and one in Ronkonkoma, NY. Her first opportunity to be introduced to the SEPUP material was in 1999 at Berkeley, CA.. What a dramatic change took place in her ideas about standards-based science materials!! She also began to plan how she wanted the middle school science program to take shape. Through this introduction to the material produced at the Lawrence Hall of Science, Renee began to actively pursue the best science program she could find for the middle schools in Little Rock.

The Science and Life Issue course was begun in Little Rock in the Fall, 2000. This has been an overwhelmingly successful program for all seventh grade students in Little Rock this year. The teachers were introduced to the program in August and began to implement the program when school started. Renee has continued to work with her teachers throughout the year. The students have been the beneficiaries of a great program.

In the Fall, 2001, the eighth grade students will begin Issues, Evidence, and You. Renee has worked with the eighth grades teachers throughout this school year and implementation will begin in August. The students will be prepared to continue the philosophy in the SEPUP materials, and the teachers should benefit from the preparation the students received in the seventh grade program.

Have I been pleased with the program? A most definite, "Yes!". Parents have told me that their students have discussed science at home and have pointed out things that were never taught during their science careers. Renee will continue to work with teachers in her district as well as teachers across the country.

Quick Links...