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New Students Becoming Scientists in the Classroom Under Pennsylvania Governor Rendell's New Education Initiative

Posted on: Tuesday, 18 July 2006, 18:00 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell's `Science: It's Elementary' initiative will help bring science to life for hundreds of students across the state.

The initiative will prepare teachers so they can give students in 78 schools in 36 counties hands-on learning needed to explore the world of science.

"Our students are not just competing with their peers in the classroom. They are competing with students from around the world," said Governor Rendell. "Today's globally competitive economy requires us to offer programs that will prepare our students for the demands of the future. This $10 million commitment to 'Science: It's Elementary' will give our students the opportunity to explore the world of science, ensuring that they are better prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow."

Through the Bayer Foundation, 48 school districts in southwestern Pennsylvania have already implemented the ASSET Inc. model, bringing science technology to the classroom. `Science: It's Elementary' will replicate this model by providing participating teachers with high quality professional development and working to increase student achievement in science education. The program will also:

-- Give teachers access to state-of-the-art, research-based curriculum and instructional materials; -- Have students conduct scientific experiments throughout the school year; and -- Provide intensive training to teachers and administrators to help transform their classrooms into science laboratories.

"Since taking office, Governor Rendell has invested an unprecedented $1.8 billion in statewide education initiatives," said Education Secretary Dr. Gerald L. Zahorchak. "`Science: It's Elementary' is a prime example of the Governor's unwavering commitment to providing a quality education to every child in the commonwealth."

The new program will help elementary students develop a passion for science at an early age, and comes at a time when all 4th, 8th and 11th grade students will begin taking a new annual state science assessment in 2008.

`Science: It's Elementary' schools will participate in strategic planning and teacher training. Training for western Pennsylvanian schools will take place Aug. 6-11 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, Pittsburgh. Eastern Pennsylvania schools will begin training Oct. 8-13 at the Westin Convention Center, also in Pittsburgh.

`Science: It's Elementary' is just one example of Governor Rendell's investments in children. The new budget provides a total education investment of $635 million for pre-K through 12th grades for the 2006-07 school year. This is an 8-percent increase over 2005-06 funding.

Beginning this fall, Governor Rendell's $20 million `Classrooms for the Future' initiative will put an Internet-equipped laptop on every student's English, math, science and history desk in 100 high schools across the state.

Governor Rendell also remains committed to the Accountability Block Grant program launched two years ago. Under the 2006-07 budget, the funding for the program will increase from $200 million to $250 million - creating opportunities for thousands of children to attend pre-kindergarten and full- day kindergarten, as well as have access to smaller class sizes. Additionally, the Head Start program, which was funded for the first time in Pennsylvania when the Governor took office, will benefit from another $10 million investment to aid 1,000 more children across Pennsylvania.

For more information about the Governor's 2006-07 education budget or the Pennsylvania Department of Education, visit http://www.pde.state.pa.us/.

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is a list of `Science: It's Elementary' schools. County District School(s) Allegheny Baldwin-Whitehall Paynter Elementary School Allegheny Duquesne City Duquesne Elementary School Allegheny Elizabeth Forward Elizabeth Elementary School Allegheny South Park South Park Elementary School Allegheny Sto-Rox Sto-Rox Elementary School Allegheny Urban League of Urban League of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Charter School Armstrong Leechburg Area David Leech Elementary School Beaver Ambridge Area Highland Elementary School Beaver Ambridge Area State Street Elementary School Beaver Rochester Area Rochester Elementary School Beaver Western Beaver County Fairview Elementary School Bedford Bedford Area Bedford Elementary School Bedford Tussey Mountain Defiance Elementary School Blair Spring Cove East Freedom Elementary School Bucks Bristol Borough Snyder-Girotti Elementary School Bucks Bristol Township Devine Elementary School Bucks Centennial McDonald Elementary School Butler Slippery Rock Area Moriane Elementary School Butler South Butler County South Butler Intermediate School Cambria Blacklick Valley Blacklick Valley Elementary School Cambria Cambria Heights Cambria Heights Elementary School Cambria Canton Area Canton Area Elementary School Cambria Forest Hills Forest Hills Elementary School Cambria Northern Cambria Northern Cambria Elementary School Cambria Portage Area Portage Area Elementary/Middle School Carbon Palmerton Area Towamensing Elementary School Centre Bellefonte Area Pleasant Gap Elementary School Chester Erin Dudley Forbes Erin Dudley Forbes Charter School Charter Clarion Union Rimersburg Elementary School Cumberland East Pennsboro Area West Creek Hills Elementary School Dauphin Harrisburg City Camp Curtin Elementary School Dauphin Steelton-Highspire Steelton-Highspire Elementary School Delaware Chester-Upland Columbus Elementary School Erie Erie City McKinley Elementary School Erie Erie City Wayne Elementary School Erie General McLane J.W. Parker Middle School Erie Girard Elk Valley Elementary School Erie Union City Area Union City Elementary School Franklin Fannett-Metal Fannett-Metal Elementary School Fulton Central Fulton McConnellsburg Elementary School Indiana Marion Center Area W.A. McCreery Middle School Juniata Juniata County Lack-Tuscarora Elementary School Lackawanna Carbondale Area Carbondale Elementary School Lancaster Columbia Borough Park Elementary School Lancaster Lancaster Hamilton Elementary School Lancaster Lancaster Price Elementary School Lancaster Lancaster Wickersham Elementary School Lancaster Manheim Central H.C. Burgard Elementary Lancaster Manheim Township Neff 6 School Lancaster Pequea Valley Paradise-Leacock Elementary School Lawrence Mohawk Area Mohawk Elementary School Lawrence New Castle Area GW Intermediate School Lawrence Wilmington Area Wilmington Area Middle School Lebanon Annville-Cleona Annville Elementary School Lehigh Catasauqua Area Catasauqua Elementary School Luzerne Crestwood Rice Elementary School Luzerne Hanover Area Memorial Elementary School Luzerne Northwest Area Garrison Elementary School Lycoming East Lycoming George A. Farrell Elementary School Mercer Farrell Area Farrell Area Elementary School Mercer Greenville Area Hempfield Elementary School Montgomery Norristown Area Gotwals Elementary School Montgomery Upper Perkiomen Hereford Elementary School Northampton Bethlehem Area Doneage Elementary School Northampton Bethlehem Area Marvine Elementary School Northampton Saucon Valley Saucon Valley Elementary School Northumberland Mount Carmel Area Mount Carmel Elementary School Philadelphia Alliance for Progress AP Charter School Charter School Philadelphia Folk Art Cultural Folk Art Cultural Treasures Treasures Charter Charter School School Philadelphia Philadelphia City Hamilton Elementary School Philadelphia Philadelphia City Overbrook Elementary School Philadelphia Philadelphia City Gilbert Spruance Elementary School Potter Oswayo Valley Oswayo Valley Elementary School Warren Warren County Allegheny Valley Elementary School Washington Charleroi Charleroi Area Elementary School Washington Ringgold Donora Elementary Center Westmoreland Mount Pleasant Area Norvelt Elementary School Westmoreland Yough West Newton Elementary School CONTACT: Kate Philips Pennsylvania Office of the Governor +1-717-783-1116 Michael Storm, PDE +1-717-783-9802

Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116; or Michael Storm, PDE, +1-717-783-9802

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/http://www.state.pa.us/http://www.pde.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire

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