SECTIONS 52955-52965 - California Statutes

EDUCATION CODE

SECTION 52955-52965

52955. With funds appropriated therefor, the University of
California, upon approval by the regents, shall establish a
cooperative endeavor entitled the California Science Project, to be
administered jointly with the Trustees of the California State
University in cooperation with the State Department of Education.
Science projects shall be distributed throughout the state so that
public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary school personnel
located in rural, urban, and suburban areas may avail themselves of
science education. "Project," as used in this chapter, means the
California Science Project.

52956. The project shall establish an advisory committee to
recommend proposals to be funded and criteria for project evaluation.
The advisory committee shall evaluate the progress of the project
and recommend appropriate changes.

52957. The advisory committee shall include:
(a) One representative selected by the California Postsecondary
Education Commission.
(b) Two representatives selected by the President of the
University of California, one of whom has the responsibility for
teaching science.
(c) Two representatives selected by the Chancellor of the
California State University, one of whom has the responsibility for
teaching science.
(d) Two representatives selected by the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges, one of whom has the responsibility for
teaching science.
(e) Four public school classroom teachers of science, and one
additional representative, selected by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction.
(f) One teacher of science plus a representative selected by the
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
(g) One representative of business and industry selected by the
Industry Education Council of California.
(h) One representative of California labor, selected by the
California branch of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of
Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
(i) One representative of the National Science Supervisors
Association.
(j) One representative of a national laboratory, selected by the
Regents of the University of California.

52958. The project shall establish criteria for approval of science
projects. These criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the
extent to which:
(a) The science project addresses the need to integrate existing
standards of science competence in the curriculum at each school
level.
(b) The science project establishes clear and informed approaches
to the needs of women and minorities for continuing with those
science courses required to enhance future career options.
(c) The science project is designed to expand the base of
scientific knowledge and the repertoire of teaching techniques of
participating teachers and their colleagues in science teaching, and
the scientific knowledge of students attending the classes they
attend.
(d) Neighboring institutions have worked collaboratively to
develop a proposal which clearly indicates their intention to
continue to work cooperatively through the duration of the project.
(e) Participating districts, colleges, universities, businesses,
federal laboratories, and individual scientists intend to provide
financial and personnel support for the science project.
(f) Selection of participating teachers will create school-based
or district-based teams of leaders for improvement of science
education at all grade levels.
(g) Participating districts, colleges, universities, and
businesses intend to use the expertise of participating teachers for
leadership among their teaching colleagues.
(h) The science project provides continuing science education to
teachers in the public schools.
(i) Scientists in both the public and private sector are recruited
to enhance the science project by providing facilities or personnel
support.

52959. Proposals for science projects which meet the criteria
specified in Section 52958 shall be submitted to the advisory
committee for review and recommendation. The advisory committee shall
establish procedures to assure that individuals reviewing a specific
proposal do not submit the proposals for a science project. The
Regents of the University of California shall provide funding to
projects which, as a group, provide a comprehensive approach to
solving the problems identified in Section 52951.
Agencies eligible to submit a proposal for a project shall
include, but are not limited to, school districts, county
superintendents of schools, colleges, universities, and national
laboratories.

52961. The Educational Technology Committee and the State Board of
Education shall give careful consideration to funding proposals for
classroom application utilizing computers, videos, and other
educational technology which would enhance the project.

52962. The advisory committee shall develop criteria for evaluating
each project. The criteria shall include at least the following
elements:
(a) The change in science knowledge and pedagogical techniques for
teaching science of participating teachers served by the local
project.
(b) Participants' attitudes towards the effectiveness of the local
project.
(c) Changes in classroom behavior and perceived in-class teaching
effectiveness.
(d) Participants' contribution to ongoing teacher retraining and
in-service programs.
(e) Any change in the students' knowledge of science due to their
teacher's participation in the science project.

52964. (a) The executive director of the project and the advisory
committee shall secure the maximum amount of funding available from
the federal government, universities and colleges, school districts,
county boards of education, the State Department of Education, and
the private sector. The funding may be provided through in-kind
contributions.
(b) To the extent possible, training provided to teachers shall be
eligible for credit through the University of California or the
California State University.

52965. This article does not apply to the University of California
unless the regents, by resolution, make these provisions applicable.