Opportunities for Strategic Investment in K-12 Science Education - Volume 2 - Groundwork for Strategic Investment

Sep 2, 2026

In March 1986, the National Science Foundation commissioned a study to identify initiatives that could address challenges and capture opportunities in K-12 science education. Volume 2 details NSF’s core functions, including professional interchange, building information and knowledge about science education, and supporting innovation. It also explains strategic investment foundations across designing initiatives, developing an overarching strategy, and building strategic capacity, followed by study methods, funding history, and commissioned papers plus an initiatives appendix with resource estimates for five years.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages304

Reading Time12 h 46 min

AccessFree to download

Synopsis of Volume 1

Preface

Acknowledgments

PART ONE: CORE FUNCTIONS

The Core Functions

NSF's Role

0 DOCUMENT RESUME Knapp,Michael s.;And Others AUTHOR Opportunities for Strategic_Investment in K-12science Education.Options for the National ScienceFoundation.Volume 2:Groundwork for StrategicInvestment. TITLE INSTITUTION Stanford Research Inst.,Menlo Park,Calif.National Science Foundation,Washington,D.C.SRI-P-1809Jun 87SPA-8651540 SPONS AGENCY REPORT NO PUB DATE CONTRACT NOTE 312p.;For a summary report of this study,see SE 048304;for volume 1,see SE 048305.Reports -_Descriptive(141)--Reports -Research/Technical(143) PUB TYPE EDRS PRICE MF01/PC13 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Change Strategies;Computer Science Education;*Elementary Schooi Mathematics;*Elementary SchoolScience;Elementary Secondary Education;*FederalAid;Federal Government;Mathematics Curziculum;Mathematics Education;Mathematics Instruction;Minority Group Children;Professional Associations;Science and society;Science Curriculum;ScienceEducation;Science Instruction;*Secondary SchoolMathematics;*Secondary School science;TeacherEducation IDENTIFIERS *National Science Foundation ABSTRACT In March,1986,the National Science Foundation(NSF)commissioned a study designed to assess initiatives available to NSFto address problems and opportunities in K-12 science education.Thefirst part of this volume presents a detailed discussion of"corefunctions”for the NSF in K-12 science education(promotingprofessional interchange,building the base of information and knowledge about science education,and supporting innovation)。Part 2of the document discusses the basis for strategic investment in threekey areas.These are:(1)designing initiatives;(2)developing anoverarching strategy;and(3)building NSE's strategic capacity.Thevolume's remaining three parts include a discussion of study methods,a summary of NSF's 30-year history of funding in K-12 scienceeducation,and three commissioned papers(regarding NSF's role inmathematics education,computer science education,and efforts toserve minority students inscience).The appendix contains tablesdelineating the suggested initiatives to implement overarching strategies,along with resource estimates indicating the funds neededfor each initiative over the next five years.(TW) *********************************************+****支********************Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made *from the original document. ***********************************+*********************************** 0284761 THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION NSF Contract No.SPA-8651540SRI Project No.1809 Prepared by: Michael S.KnappMarian S.StearnsMark St.JohnAndrew A.Zucker with the assistance of:Catherine P.AilesDebra M.RichardsDorothy E.Stewart OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRATEGICINVESTMENT INK-12 SCIENCEEDUCATION Options for the National Science Foundation Volume 2:Groundwork for Strategic Investment June 1987 U.s.DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONOflice of Educational Research and ImprovemenlEDUCATIONALRESOURCES INFORMATIOxCENTER(ERIC)This doeument has been roproduced arecaived from the perso0 or organlzatioIoriginaling it Frepared for: □ Minor changes have been made to improv reproduction quality. ·Points of view or opinlons statedin this document do nol necessarily ropresent officiaOERI position or policy. "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THISMATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BYNSF TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCESINFORMATION CENTER(ERIC)." 100 The results of this study are reported in three volumes: The Summary Report contains a brief overview of all findings andconclusions regarding NSF's mission in K-12 science education,theopportunities for the Foundation to make a significant contribution tosolving problems in K-12 science education,and how NSF can approachthese opportunities more strategically. Volume 1-Problems and Opportunities presents full discussions ofNSF's mission,the problems in K-12 science education chat aresusceptible to NSF's influence,and the opportunities to address these

FAQs

What was the purpose of the NSF-commissioned study in K-12 science education?

The study, commissioned in March 1986, assessed initiatives available to NSF to address problems and opportunities in K-12 science education.

What core functions does Volume 2 discuss?

Volume 2 presents detailed discussions of NSF core functions: promoting professional interchange, building a base of information and knowledge about science education, and supporting innovation.

How is strategic investment in K-12 science education organized in this volume?

It is structured around designing initiatives, developing an overarching strategy, and building NSF’s strategic capacity.

Sep 2, 2026

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