About

BaySci was created in 2008 to build district leadership for inquiry-based science education through a partnership with the Lawrence Hall of Science, Exploratorium, and five Bay Area school districts (Emery USD, Newark USD, Novato USD, Palo Alto USD and Petaluma City Schools). Initially funded by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the Noyce Foundation, the partnership provided a foundation for meaningful and sustainable district support for quality elementary science programs. The project increased opportunities for students in Bay Area school districts to learn science by improving the district leadership capacity and support for science education, an important foundation in school science education reform.

In 2009, with major funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, BaySci invited the Newark Unified and Novato Unified School Districts to participate in a two year BaySci Teacher Professional Development Program. This program offered professional development opportunities for teachers using FOSS (Full Option Science System), the hands-on science curriculum developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science. The grant also funded district science festivals that provide opportunities for families to share with their children in the joy of learning science, as well as supported a district BaySci Science Coordinator to facilitate the professional development program within their district.

In 2012, with joint funding from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, BaySci has expanded efforts to include capacity development work in more school districts in the District Network Strand, through the development of individual science leaders and teachers in the Science Champions Network Strand, and through partnering and collaborative development of regional Science-rich Educational Institutions (SREIs) in the SREI Learning Community Strand.