About the LASER Project

The Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) initiative, launched by the National Science Resources Center (NSRC) in 1998, has the overarching goal of promoting a sustainable, inquiry-based model for kindergarten through Grade 12 science education reform. Key elements of the LASER approach are the implementation of inquiry-based curricula, ongoing professional development, effective program and student assessment, curriculum materials supplied to teachers in ready-to-use condition, and the development of strong administrative and community support. The use of hands-on science kits and inquiry-based pedagogy are hallmarks of the LASER approach.

The Washington State Legislature launched LASER statewide in 1999. Washington State LASER supports annual strategic planning institutes and curriculum showcases and supports a network of LASER alliances that provide the ongoing professional development, materials support, and technical assistance needed to implement inquiry-based science instruction in participating schools. Funding for the regional LASER alliances comes from a combination of state, private, and school district sources. Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Battelle (a nonprofit developer of technology products for scientific and educational purposes), and the Pacific Science Center (a science education center for children located in Seattle) provide the leadership for Washington State LASER.

Each alliance is a coalition of school districts; educational service districts (ESDs); and universities or private companies, or both. Current LASER alliances include:

• Mountain to Harbor Alliance, coordinated by the ESD 113 in Olympia.
• North Central Alliance, coordinated by the North Central ESD in Wenatchee.
• North Sound Alliance, coordinated through Institute for Systems Biology.
• Northeastern Alliance, coordinated by the ESD 101 in Spokane.
• Northwest Alliance, coordinated by the Northwest ESD 189 in Anacortes.
• Olympic Peninsula Alliance, coordinated by the Olympic ESD in Bremerton.
• South Central Alliance, coordinated through ESD 105 in Yakima.
• South Sound Alliance, coordinated through the Puyallup School District.
• Southeastern Alliance, coordinated through Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and Walla Walla School Districts.
• Southwest Washington Alliance, coordinated by the ESD 112 in Vancouver.

Public Documents

Project Information

LASER Professional Development Training Presentation
This Microsoft PowerPoint presentation was used to train LASER grantees on the use of the LASER Professional Development Database.

Evaluation Reports & Highlights

Washington State LASER 2007–2008 Evaluation Report
This annual report summarized the findings from the analysis of the 2007 science Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) data with respect to science professional development, assessments of student content knowledge that results from the use of specific inquiry-based instructional modules, and the findings from site visits conducted in 34 schools that participated heavily in the LASER professional development.

Washington State LASER 2008 Evaluation Report Presentation
This Microsoft PowerPoint presentation summarized the findings, conclusions, and recommendations contained in the above report.

Highlights from Recent Evaluation Studies
This Microsoft PowerPoint presentation highlights the findings from evaluation activities carried out in 2007 and significant evaluation findings from previous studies. The presentation was given by Dennis Schatz at the December 7, 2007 WERA conference.

Washington State LASER: What we know about its impact on students
This Microsoft PowerPoint presentation summarized 3 years of research on the impact of LASER on student achievement in science.

2006 LASER Implementation Study Results
This document gives the preliminary finding from the research conducted by RMC Research in 2006 that examined the impacts of LASER on student achievement in Grade 5 at the student and class level.

Evaluation Instruments

Sentinel Site Visit Instructions
This document contains the instructions for conducting LASER Sentinel Site Visits including how to use all of the data collection instruments and submitting results online.

Science Education Resources

Effective Science Instruction: What Does Research Tell Us?
Banilower, E., Cohen, K., Pasley, J., & Weiss, I. (2008). Effective science instruction: What does research tell us? Portsmouth, NH: RMC Research Corporation, Center on Instruction.

Effective Science Instruction Presentation
This Microsoft PowerPoint presentations summarized the findings addressed in the above report.

Public Reports

School Districts Using Materials
This report shows which materials are used in which grades within a selected school district.

Materials Used in School Districts
This report shows which school districts and grades are using selected materials.