Orange Unified School District serves approximately 15,048 students and 605 teachers in our kindergarten through sixth grades. In the fall of 2002, we began our partnership with Beckman@Science and have received an annual grant from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation for our hands-on inquiry-centered science program.  We have trained a core of science teacher leaders, established a science materials and training center, scheduled and conducted kit trainings for teachers, and purchased, delivered, and refurbished science kits for classroom use.

During the first year, teachers from each of our 30 elementary schools were identified for the Teacher Leader program. These teachers received training at full day workshops focusing on inquiry science, process skills, kit training, expository writing in the science notebook, backwards assessment starting with science content standards, parent awareness activities, and research supporting the program. The Science Teacher Leaders answer questions and promote hands-on, inquiry-centered science at their sites. Project Tomorrow was instrumental in bringing a grant funded by the Fluor Foundation to help train the Science Teacher Leaders. Through this grant, the Center for Educational Partnerships Science Education at UCI provides leadership in the training of the K-6 Science Teacher Leaders in OUSD.  Although the Project Tomorrow grant has since ended, we continue to provide leadership training with Dr. Terry Shanahan from the UCI Center.

The kits used by OUSD are nationally recognized, exemplary, hands-on, inquiry-centered science curriculum with a focus on supporting state standards. Before a kit is placed in a classroom, the teacher attends a one-day workshop presented by a grade-level teacher who has taught the kit at least twice. Topics addressed in the training include kit contents, teaching strategies, embedded assessments, and the use of science notebooks and their use for assessment.

A kit is in the classroom for approximately 8-10 weeks. It is then returned to the Science Center where it is refurbished, and subsequently sent out to another teacher.

Approximately 80% of our teachers have received kit training. In 2007-2008, OUSD impacted approximately 12,532 out of 15,048 (83%) of our K-6 students with hands-on, inquiry-centered science.

A Science Steering Committee meets regularly to guide the progress of the program. Representatives from the OUSD Board of Education, Chapman University, Santiago Canyon College, central office administration, principals, teachers, and parents serve on this committee. Our fourth annual Community Science Night was held at Santiago Canyon College on November 14, 2008. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District joined us.  This event along with Parent Awareness Nights at elementary schools sites have given parents a first hand look at the use of inquiry-centered science kits and how they are used in the classroom with their children.