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The Science Education Partnership (SEP) creates active partnerships between secondary school science teachers and the Hutchinson Center, connecting teachers with scientists and the multiple resources of the Center and our partner institutions. Initiated in 1991 through collaboration of teachers and scientists, this multifaceted professional development program engages teachers in hands-on workshops, individual research experience with mentor scientists, pedagogy and content discussions, classroom lesson preparation, and access to equipment kits and scientific resources for classroom use. The explicit goals of SEP include creating and maintaining a professional learning community for participants and increasing teacher leadership capabilities.
Now in its eighth year, SEP adds 25 new teachers each year while maintaining strong working associations with past participants through ongoing technical support, kit and resource loans, newsletter, Web site, and workshops. Currently 176 middle and high school teachers from public and private schools are involved. In 1997-98, SEP's kit loan program provided more than 11,500 students with opportunities for exciting and challenging hands-on investigative science. Funding will continue these successful and critical core activities and will add 125 new teachers-reaching a total of 301 in 2003. Several kits will be redesigned and 2-4 new kits will be developed to offer more constructivist learning experiences.
In collaboration with the University of Washington, we will implement leadership workshops to help teachers build district and community support for hands-on science to gain grant writing experience. These core activities leverage our ability to collaborate locally and nationally on systemic improvement in science education for all students. All program activities are evaluated both by internal and external review; the Insitute for Learning Innovation conducts the external evaluation of SEP core activities. In addit
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