FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
     
    S
      
    TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
     
    T. WILLARD FAIR,
    Chairman
    Members
    DR. AKSHAY DESAI
    ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
    PHOEBE RAULERSON
    KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
    LINDA K. TAYLOR
     
    Dr. Eric J. Smith
    Commissioner of Education
      
     
      
     
      
     
     
    Contact Information:
    Todd Clark
    (850) 245-0764
    Todd.clark@fldoe.org
    K12: 2008-106
     
     
     
     
    MEMORANDUM
     
     
    TO:
    Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents of Curriculum
     
    FROM:
    Dr. Frances Haithcock
     
    DATE:
    July 31, 2008
     
    SUBJECT:
    Middle School Science Initiative
     
    I am pleased to inform you about a new initiative sponsored by the Florida Department of
    Education (FLDOE), the Florida and the Islands Comprehensive Center (FLICC), and the
    Florida Association of Science Supervisors (FASS). This initiative is designed to build capacity
    of districts to implement the new science requirements addressed in the A++ Legislation by
    bringing district leadership teams together to examine research, explore instructional practices,
    and design lesson plans which incorporate rigorous and relevant instruction in the area of middle
    school science. A special emphasis will be placed on seventh grade science in which the concept
    of biological evolution is introduced. The aim is to promote content instruction that incorporates
    grade-level appropriate content benchmarks and nature of science benchmarks from the Next
    Generation Standards for Science, in the design of the instructional units on evolution, as
    recommended by the National Research Council.
     
    Twenty district teams from throughout the state will have an opportunity to participate in the
    Middle School Science Initiative (MSSI) during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years.
    District leadership teams will be invited to attend a series of regional trainer-of-trainers
    workshops to be held throughout the state. Facilitators will include nationally recognized leaders
    from the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE), leaders from FLDOE, FLICC,
    and FASS. All costs for materials and conference registrations will be provided by FLICC.
    Travel expenses and any costs for substitute teachers will be the responsibility of the districts.
    More details about the program will be provided to interested applicants.
     
     
    DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
    CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
     
    325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
    Middle School Science Initiative
    July 31, 2008
    Page Two
     
    Interested districts should complete the attached application and return it to FLICC by
    September 5, 2008. Districts will be notified of their acceptance by September 22, 2008. The
    first institute will be scheduled for early November.
     
    In order to ensure the success of this initiative, a district administrator and staff development
    coordinator must agree to the assurances that are attached. Prior to the first institute, the liaisons /
    mentors will confer with the district contact to ensure that all expectations are clear and all
    questions are answered.
     
    If you have questions about this initiative, please contact Mr. Todd Clark, Bureau Chief, Bureau
    of Instruction and Innovation, e-mail address todd.clark@fldoe.org or John Lockwood, MSSI
    Project Lead, at 800-756-9003; e-mail jlockwood@ets.org .
     
    FH/tc
     
     

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