STANDARDS-BASED TEACHER EDUCATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
(STEP)

The STEP project applies research-based, incremental professional development, in a program that will assist over 7,500 teachers master the content and methodology of exemplary science curricula that address the new standards in science education. The Curriculum Research & Development Group of the University of Hawaii and its project partners--Carnegie Mellon University, East Carolina University, Florida Atlantic University, Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, University of Mississippi, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Pacific Lutheran University, and the University of North Alabama--in collaboration with the schools in their service regions have created STEP specifically to empower teachers to become leaders in the standards-based movement.

STEP offers professional development summer institutes and academic year support services nationwide using the interdisciplinary science programs Developmental Approaches in Science, Health and Technology (DASH), Foundational Approaches in Science Teaching (FAST), and Hawaii Marine Science Studies (HMSS). All three programs have been identified in the U.S. Department of Education's nationwide search as programs that meet the new standards for science education and staff development.

To ensure effective delivery of the standards-based curricula on this scale, STEP provides five, professional development components: (1) awareness/outreach, (2) pre-implementation planning, (3) professional development in-service institutes, (4) implementation support services, and (5) professional development for institutionalization.

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