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FOCUS
Through FOCUS (Faculty Outreach Collaborations Uniting Scientists, Students and Schools), the University of California, Irvine (UCI) unites the efforts of mathematics, science, education and research library faculty and staff with educators from local community colleges, school districts and local educational support agencies. The partnership builds on prior established relationships between UCI and three high-need California school districts: Compton Unified, Santa Ana Unified and the Westside of Newport-Mesa Unified. These schools serve 106,695 students of whom 82% are Hispanic and 11% are African American.

The work of FOCUS will include the construction of a "future teacher highway" to increase the number, quality and diversity of preK-12 teachers of mathematics and science; involvement of math and science professionals in "Discipline Dialogues" that cross segmental boundaries, and the creation of systemic reform in the professional development of preK-12 teachers of mathematics and science.

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Project Contributions

Refining a Model for an Inter-segmental Learning Network: Engaging Community College Students with Research University Faculty to Promote Persistence in STEM
"The "Saturdays with Scientists (SWS)" model, developed by the University of California, Irvine FOCUS MSP was refined for the 2009-2010 academic year using survey tools and information presented at theā€¦
A Mixed Method Study Explores the Impact of UCI-NSF PreK/K Leadership Training for Early Childhood Educators Integrating Science, Math, and Literacy
Posted by: Linda Clinard . This brief paper and Powerpoint will be shared as part of a "roundtable" presentation at the International Network of Scholars (INET) Conference. The INET Conference is sponsored by the School,...
Early Development of a Student-Centered Perspective in Science and Math Pre-Service Teachers
"This pilot study investigates the influence of instructor modeling on future math and science teachers' student-centered perspective as evidenced in planning classroom lessons. The lesson plans of twenty-seven...
Continued Integration of Curriculum Guides, Quarterly Benchmark Assessments, and Professional Development to Improve Student Learning in Mathematics and Science
"This investigation is part of a longitudinal study to explore long-term effects of sustained use by teachers in a large urban school district in southern California of standards-based curriculum guides,...
Integrating Curriculum Guides, Quarterly Benchmark Assessments, and Professional Development to Improve Student Learning in Mathematics
"In this study teachers in a large urban school district in southern California used standards-based curriculum guides, quarterly benchmark assessments, and focused professional development to improve...
Evaluating New versus Mature Partnerships: How Evaluation Questions May Change Based on Partnership Longevity
"We will illustrate how our initial observations of the FOCUS partnership in particular have caused us to re-examine our definition of partnership in general. Specifically, the tenure of the FOCUS...
UCI receives presidential award for excellence in science mentoring
Program honored for efforts encouraging minority students to pursue science "The White House announced Wednesday that UC Irvine's Minority Science Program has won the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence...