STEP.com

Newport News Public Schools, Newport News VA

Investigators

Abstract

The Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) proposes to plan and implement a project titled: STEP.Com. This project is designed to significantly advance science, mathematics, and technology (SMT) education of all K-12 students. The NNPS would accomplish this task by building on the extant infrastructure developed by a systemic reform process initiated in 1992 and catalyzed by the CPMSA program, implemented 1993. System components identified for more extensive deployment are as follows: (1) Intensify the institutionalization of the K-12 science, mathematics, and technology (SMT) standards-based curriculum. (2) Elevate principals' leadership capacity to promote and sustain reform. (3) Expand school-business partnership programs that would increase the number of skilled-entrants into the technology-based workforce. (4) Accelerate the integration of parents and community as partners in the whole school reform process. Critically new system components include in this project design: (1) Collaboration with universities to revise teacher education program. (2) Expansion of student-teacher research activities supported by post-doctoral personnel from the universities. (3) Infusion of technology to improve teachers' delivery of SMT standards-based curriculum for all students. (4) Application of key indicator data systems that correlate teacher performance and student achievement. This NNUSP project will lead to a unified, full-scale implementation of a SMT program for all students. It has the potential to dramatically impact the future of the Newport News Community.