Employer-Linked Charter School Initiative

Partnership to Reform Instruction in Science and Math (PRISM)
Submitted by: Presidio High School, Tucson, AZ

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SUMMARY

Partnership to Reform Instruction in Science and Math (PRISM) is a program that shifts the focus from learning about science and math to dynamic involvement in scientific discovery. This is accomplished through a combination of investigative laboratory learning and internships in career fields that have a math and/or science basis.

Reasons for Practice

At the time of their enrollment in Presidio, many students lack self-esteem, have few life goals, and are lacking in career aspirations. One of Presidio's primary goals is to enhance the students' sense of self-worth and to prepare them for a productive future. The future economic survival for many people in the United States, and definitely for residents of Arizona, requires readiness for entry into high tech careers. According to the Arizona Governor's Report on the New Economy 2000, math and science jobs tend to be lucrative careers with growing opportunities. Entry into these abundant and higher paying fields demands a much greater level of math and science competency than was being realized by Presidio students.

Presidio High School had been able to raise the academic performance of students in the areas of reading and writing. Success was demonstrated by an 88% increase in reading and writing scores on state-mandated assessments by the AIMS (Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards) from 1999 to 2000. Math and science scores on standardized tests, however, remained low for Presidio High School students as well as students in most Arizona schools, both public and charter. The results of the 1999 AIMS math tests were alarming-only 11% of Arizona students passed, and, at Presidio, math standards were met by only one student.

The premise of PRISM is that all students will learn more effectively and retain the knowledge gained when they learn experientially, in context, and with demonstrated relevance to their future economic survival. Young adults struggling to survive and fearful of a dim economic future must believe that what they are learning has value if they are going to be willing to tackle difficult course work. Through PRISM, Presidio hopes to develop a new vision of science and math learning so that all students will emerge from high school with a high level of achievement in math and the sciences, and with an appreciation for the value of that knowledge.

Length of Time in Effect

PRISM received funding from the US Department of Education Public Charter Schools Program (PCSP) in August 2001.

FULL DESCRIPTION

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PARTNERSHIP TO REFORM Instruction in Science and Math (PRISM) is a science and math program that involves students in scientific discovery through a combination of investigative laboratory learning and internships in career fields with a basis in math and/or science.

Program Components

Laboratory Component
The science and math curricula developed through PRISM have an extensive laboratory component. Using US Department of Education Public Charter Schools Program (PCSP) funding, PRISM has been able to provide students with two state-of-the-art science labs, which are necessary for secondary level scientific exploration. The laboratories were recently completed and will be available for use during the second year of the project. It is anticipated that the laboratory component will help instructors to overcome the limited reading abilities of some of the students and, at the same time, make science come to life for all of the students.

School to Work Component
The second component of the curricula is a dynamic and comprehensive school to work program. This program was partially implemented in year one and will be fully implemented in year two. It is designed to demonstrate to the students how the material they are learning in science and math relates to the world of work. The transitional services coordinator has developed internships and entry-level employment opportunities in career fields where science and math are integral to job performance. The transitional services coordinator also worked with the special education administrator and the Arizona Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to develop employment opportunities for special needs students that are in compliance with student Special Education IEP Transitional Plans.

Community Partnerships

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In an attempt to broaden the students' knowledge of career opportunities, the transitional services coordinator, in conjunction with the science teachers, scheduled a variety of guest speakers and field trips. Now that the science labs are completed, the school will have guest teachers from various industries who will use the school's labs to demonstrate how math and science are used on the job site. Below is a partial list of the PRISM community partnerships:

Partner	Responsibility
Northwest Medical Center Linda Smith, Lab Director	Internships and Speakers
Tucson Water	Internships, Speakers, Employment, Curriculum Development, Job Shadowing, Field Trips to Sweetwater Wetlands, Cleanwell Reservoir and the Water Treatment Plant
Universal Avionics	Internships & Welding Certification
Primavera Builders	Internships, Speakers, Employment & Curriculum Development
Pompea & Associates Steve Pompea	Internships & Speakers -- Optical Engineering, NASA Research
Bring Funeral Home, Inc.	Internships, Speakers & Employment
The Humane Society	Internships, Speakers & Curriculum Development
University of Arizona Med-Start Program	Summer Program - Credit courses
University of Arizona, Office of Minority Affairs, Arizona Health Sciences	Speakers, Curriculum Development, Med-Start Summer Programs, Scholarships
University of Arizona, Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics Depts.	Speakers, Curriculum Development, Field Trips
University of Arizona, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research Dr. Rex Adams	Internships, Speakers & Curriculum Development
Multi-media Lab Computer Science, University of Arizona	Internships & Credited Courses
Digital Arts Summer Career Academy, Pima Community College	Credited Courses
Tucson Water Hayden-Udall Treatment Plant Chemical Lab	Internships, Speakers & Curriculum Development
Old Pueblo Archaeology Center	Internships, Speakers, Job Shadowing, Guest Instructors, Curriculum Development in Archaeology, Field Trips, Scholarships, & Hands-on Excavation, Scholarships
Tucson Auto & Truck	Internships
Kino Community Hospital	Nurse Shadowing Program
Pima Animal Control Center	Internships & Field Trips
Pima Community College	Summer Career Academies