SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION IN RURAL AMERICA: Evaluative Study of NSF's Rural Systemic Initiatives

Systemic Research, Inc., Norwood MA

Investigators

Abstract

Systemic Research, Inc. proposes to conduct a 24-month evaluative study (from October 2001 to September 2003). During the initial phase, comprehensive secondary data collection will be conducted from various sources, including past Core Data Elements (CDE) reports, Annual Reports submitted to NSF, other key indicators obtainable from the RSIs' own web sites and relevant rural project reports. Systemic Research will develop a Rural Key Indicator Database (RKID) to organize both quantitative and qualitative longitudinal achievement databases over the project period of individual RSI sites. The study team will conduct two site visits each year to confirm reform implementation and to write relevant case stories based on observation. Based on completed RKID, both quantitative and qualitative data analysis will be performed to explore an inferential causal model. Study results will be disseminated in three publications: a two volume Rural Key Indicators of Science and Mathematics Education (Volume I for individual RSI progress report and Volume II for overall RSI progress reports); a rural education report in booklet format; and a RSI Evaluative Study Report including case stories of the four sites that were visited. All publications will be available in three different formats-- printed copy, CD-ROM, and web-based publication.