Rockman et al (REA), a San Francisco-based research and evaluation firm
conducted an evaluation of the Science and Health Education Partnership’s (SEP),
SF Science program. SF Science is SEP's professional learning community (PLC)
program. Launched in 2007, this program provides support for small groups of
teachers from a school site to collaborate to improve science teaching and learning
at their school. Since its inception, 138 teachers from 23 SFUSD elementary or K-8
schools (including charter schools) have participated in the program.
Evidence from previous teacher level evaluations suggested that the SF Science
program had had a profound impact on participating teachers. Funding from the
S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation in 2010-11 provided support for SEP continue the SF
Science program at selected sites so that a systematic evaluation of the program at
the school level could be conducted.
The purpose of this evaluation was, through a case study approach, to identify and
assess the elements of SF Science that promoted any shift in culture surrounding
science teaching and learning at each of three participating school sites. In addition
we analyzed unique factors in place at each school site that were permissive or
instrumental to these shifts taking place.
California Science Project