The Mission
Elementary Science Coalition Mission
The Need: Real Science Education for Elementary Students
Elementary science is generally being taught only one hour per week. This simply isn't enough!
Why is elementary science important? Science is a cumulative learning process in both process and content. If we wait too long to capture students’ attention and interest, they will not build a strong enough fluency in the language of science and will crippled by their lack of basic understanding to move forward. We need to shift our focus from the back end of the pipeline to the front end of the pipeline. If the United States expects to maintain its position as a global leader, we cannot continue to limit students from moving to higher levels of learning. We must build students’ knowledge of science techniques beginning in elementary school if we are to expect them to have the desire or skills to pursue advanced learning in science. Years ago, when the U.S. Soccer League was trying to turn soccer into a popular American sport, they established teams at elementary schools to get young kids playing soccer. Years later, their efforts have proven to be highly successful as soccer has become an all-American sport. With respect to science education, this is the approach that we as a nation must embrace to stimulate a lasting interest in science.
The Mission: Increase Quality and Quantity of Elementary Science Education
A clear goal: Increase science education by a factor of 3.
The mission of the Elementary Science Coalition is to increase the quantity and quality of elementary science instruction at the elementary level. National surveys indicate that science is taught for only one hour per week in the elementary grades. The Elementary Science Coalition will increase the time devoted to science education by a factor of 3. Our goal is to see science taught for one hour, three days per week.
How we'll accomplish this:
- Increase funding for elementary science education
- Create a critical mass of scholastic and political support for increasing the amount of classroom time spent teaching science at the elementary level
- Lift the elementary science curriculum market by causing policy makers to make tools available to school systems and teachers to improve K-5 performance, and increase the demand for such tools through increased measurements and requirements
- Lead a national outreach campaign to educate teachers, administrators, and parents that the skills their children will need to be productive in the workforce will demand a mastery of science
- Provide content-based professional development opportunities for teachers and disseminate updated information about best practices in science teaching and learning
- Advocate for state and national assessments to measure a deeper understanding than pure memorization of rote science facts
- Campaign for standards alignment, both vertical alignment between grades PK-16 and horizontal alignment within grade levels
- Influence policy such as No Child Left Behind
The Work: Tangible and Effective Advocacy
We build partnerships, relationships, and understanding -- powerfully and effectively.
The Elementary Science Coalition has emerged from initial work of the Science Companion Academic Advisory Board, a group of national leaders in elementary science education. Our recent advocacy efforts have elevated the discussion of elementary science education in Washington. We have achieved a number of successes to date, and with your help can achieve many more.
- Advocated for increased federal funding for K-12 science education in the America COMPETES Act, signed into law this past summer
- Collaborated with existing STEM coalitions to advocate for directing federal attention and resources to the elementary level
- Urged Congress to include higher funding levels for STEM education programs within the Executive Branch agencies
- Participated in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtable’s Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA) and related workforce development initiatives
- Urged Congress to require states to devote equal attention to science, reading and math, by including science in the calculation of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by No Child Left Behind
- Cosponsored the first Congressional briefing on elementary science education in July 2007
- Successfully advocated for the adoption of an amendment to the FY 2008 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill to ensure that the NAEP 2009 Science Test includes extensive and explicit to scientific inquiry
- Partnered with a high-concentration English Language Learners (ELL) district to advance improvements in elementary science education
- Partnered with several historically black colleges and universities and their charter schools in underserved communities to develop continuous, high-quality education programs beginning in elementary school through postsecondary education
- Participated in several workshops and focus groups to influence the development of education and workforce public/private partnerships
The Opportunity: Results Oriented, Effective Representation
Get your voice heard in Washington, and improve science education.
For most educational companies, the world of government relations is overwhelming and expensive. Through the Elementary Science Coalition, you can effectively gain access to Members of Congress and the Executive Branch, and add your voice to the national conversation about elementary science as part of a growing, influential group of the community's leaders.
With membership in the Coalition you will gain:
- Access to one of the top lobbying firms in D.C. at a fraction of the regular cost
- Company visibility on Capitol Hill and in the national dialogue about science
- Participation in special advocacy sessions at four major educational conferences per year
- Up-to-date news on important legislative issues, and how they will impact your company
- Accountability, frequent reporting, instant access to Coalition principals
- An opportunity to become part of the science education solution at a national level
Join us! Click here to find out how you can become a member...
The Elementary Science Coalition is a select group of educators, educational publishing companies, and corporations with a vested interest in a strong scientific workforce, 
