EDC Awarded $15 Million to Lead National Effort to Advance Elementary Science Education

EDC, a global nonprofit, has received a $15 million joint investment from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to lead a newly established national research and development center, which will address the urgent need for high-quality science instruction and assessment for young elementary-grade learners.

Led by Megan Silander at EDC, the Center for Advancing Elementary Science through Assessment, Research, and Technology (CAESART), will serve as a national hub, bringing together networks of researchers, educators, and policymakers to generate innovative ways to understand children's science learning and apply this new knowledge to identify evidence-based solutions for improving elementary science education. In addition to developing new assessments for research use, the Center will explore the effectiveness of a science-literacy integrated curriculum, a possible solution to the accountability pressures elementary educators face that leave little time for science instruction.

“We are honored to partner with IES and NSF on this vital initiative,” said Dr. Silander. “By connecting research, technology, and practice, we can address the nationwide gap in high-quality science assessments for young students. Building our capacity to assess children's science learning will provide a foundation from which to address the complex barriers to opportunity for high-quality science experiences in early elementary.”

CAESART’s initiatives will include:

• A comprehensive review of existing pre-K–5 science assessments, with results to be made publicly available in a national database.
• Development and validation of new, technology-based assessments that use adaptive and game-based tools to better capture young students' science learning.
• Research into the effectiveness of integrated science-literacy curricula on student outcomes, using these assessments to measure impact.

The Center also will engage stakeholders from across the education spectrum, including school and district leaders, researchers, and educators, to ensure that the research aligns with classroom needs and supports long-term improvements in science education.

By contributing to this national effort, EDC is poised to help redefine elementary science education, ensuring that young students across the country have access to the highest-quality learning experiences.

"We are thrilled to have EDC partner with us to lead this critical effort, "said James L. Moore III, NSF assistant director for STEM Education. “Our partnership with IES to support CAESART allows NSF to expand its investments in research and assessment methods that will transform early science education for our youngest learners.”

"This new partnership with NSF goes beyond building much-needed evidence about science assessment and learning," said IES acting director Matthew Soldner. "It reflects our shared commitment to improving student achievement in STEM, leveraging NSF's unique role in supporting the development of high-quality programs and products and IES's expertise in identifying what works, for whom, and under what conditions."

CAESART will bring together partners with broad and deep expertise in elementary science:

• the University of Miami who are developers of the only standardized early childhood science assessment;
• the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) at University of California, Los Angeles, with its extensive expertise in game-based assessment design; and 
• Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) at University of California, Berkeley, who are developers of a widely used elementary science and literacy curriculum.

To stay connected to CAESART’s work and EDC’s role, please visit edc.org or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About EDC.ORG:
EDC works with partners worldwide to advance every person’s journey to learn, work, and be well. Since 1958, we have been a catalyst for community-led initiatives that promote sustainable change and advance solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

About IES:
The Institute of Education Sciences, a part of the U.S. Department of Education, is the nation's leading source for rigorous, independent education research, evaluation, statistics, and assessment.

About NSF:
The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories.