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USF Home > College of Arts and Sciences > Coalition for Science Literacy

 

Our History & Mission

The Coalition for Science Literacy (CSL) at the University of South Florida was founded in 1995 to address local, state, and national needs for K-12 school and college graduates. CSL has assisted students of every age in gaining the knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) necessary for responsible citizenship and careers in our technological economy and culture of the 21st century. Activities have included:

  • development of collaborative projects supported by federal agencies, such as
    • with Hillsborough County Public Schools on science and mathematics teacher recruitment and induction (MASTRACI, funded by USDOE and MOSTI, funded by FIPSE)
    • leadership development of Hillsborough County middle school science teachers (LIMSS, funded by USDOE IES)
    • curriculum development with Polk County Public Schools Aerospace Academy (funded by NASA GK-12)
    • Global Climate Change Education: Advancing Student Knowledge Through Teacher Education, with several counties ( GCCE, funded by NASA)
  • planning, development, and delivery (as partners) of statewide professional development programs; these include
    • the Mathematics and Science Professional Development Program (MSPD) for elementary school teachers, funded for three years by the Florida Legislature
    • Florida PROMiSE, a statewide Mathematics and Science Professional Development Program supported by the Florida Department of Education using Title IIB funds for three years
  • advocacy for investment in mathematics and science education at the state level, contributing to the establishment of the Florida Center for Research in STEM
  • contributing to national planning and initiatives through
    • the National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (NASSMC), CSL Director is Vice President
    • testimony before the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)
    • serving on the planning group for the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) that led to National Lab Day and Science on the Mall (DC)
  • evaluation of science and mathematics programs, including PROMiSE and ten Title IIB programs in science education
  • research on
    • reasons for teacher resignations
    • business models of project cost effectiveness evaluation
    • structural change in elementary school science teaching