Who We Are

The UCLA Science Project works with both novice and more experienced science educators by providing a variety of events designed to facilitate a deep understanding of science content material and a large repertoire of highly-effective, research-based teaching strategies that can be used in the science classroom. Throughout the year, the UCLA Science Project facilitates a number of programs for K-12 teachers which consist of science content, academic language development, and effective instructional strategies geared to increase student achievement in the science classrooms.  Center X also facilitiates the AP Readiness Programs for high school students in the content areas of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Calculus. 

In addition to supporting science teachers' professional growth by offering programs such as Nanotechnology, and Leadership Institutes, the UCLA Science Project has also partnered with several schools and districts within the Los Angeles area. In keeping with Center X’s vision “Where research and practice intersect,” the UCLA Science Project strives to build collaborative partnerships with the university, educational agencies, and local school districts to develop the programs offered to science teachers. As a part of these collaborations, the UCLA Science Project can learn about the cutting edge research both in education and the sciences and can tailor the professional development opportunities offered to fit the specific needs of science teachers and their students. 

Current Partnerships

Through its partnerships with Santee High School and Gompers Middle School, the UCLA Science Project provides school site coaching to science teachers. The overarching goal of providing on-site coaches to teachers is to improve content literacy through the implementation of effective instructional practices. In addition to their work inside the classroom, coaches design and facilitate collaborative professional development activities for their teachers. 

The goal of the Teacher Retention Grant is to increase the retention rates of middle and high school science teachers within three target schools (Fremont High School and its two feeder (middle) schools Edison and John Muir) by building strong professional learning communities, which will support each other through curriculum development, implementation, assessment and peer review. Through engaging teachers in professional conversations to help them better understand their students and the community, the UCLA Science Project hope to change teachers’ beliefs about their students’ abilities and give them a positive outlook about teaching at their schools. By strengthening the teachers’ content knowledge, pedagogy support base, belief system, classroom success, leadership skills and validation by their peers and administration, the UCLA Science Project hopes that more science teachers will choose to seek out and remain at low-performing schools within Local District 7.

The main goal of the Gear-Up Grant (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a partnership between three middle schools and one high school in LAUSD Local District 8 and local universities, community groups, research groups and the California Science Center in order to decrease drop-out rates and increase the number of students eligible to enter postsecondary schooling. In order to reach these goals, the Gear-Up Grant provides students with mentors who provide in-class and after-school tutoring, fieldtrips to local college campuses and academic advising. These partnerships also work with parents and teachers, providing each with institutes designed to teach them how to better support their students.