Space Foundation brings unique Integrated Science Literacy model to Hawaiian classrooms

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May. 3, 2006) — The Space Foundation is currently training teachers at the Kona North Complex in Hawaii using its innovative and proprietary Integrated Science and Literacy model. The Space Foundation’s work to help improve teacher and student proficiency in the Kona classrooms results from a federal grant from the U. S. Department of Education. This grant supports a partnership between the North Kona Complex and The Space Foundation to provide for three years of sustained teacher training at five schools in the greater Kona area: Kelakehe, Kahakai, and Holualoa elementary schools, Kealakehe Intermediate School, and Kealakehe High School. Based upon its research and more than 20 years of experience in educator professional development, the Space Foundation developed the Integrated Science and Literacy model to demonstrate to teachers how to integrate science into all content areas while successfully increasing student literacy. When children are being stimulated and motivated by interesting topics such as space and science, they want to learn about math, problem solving and experimentation. Their reading and research abilities increase, as do their student skill sets and academic achievement. This project helps an at-risk population in the greater Kona area on the island of Hawaii. The Big Island has the highest percentage of welfare recipients, high school dropouts, teen pregnancies, and alcohol and drug abuse in the nation. Per capita income of a family of four living in the Kona area is 25 percent lower than the state average, with 18.8 percent living below the poverty level. The cultural diversity is evident in the 62.1 percent of the population who are not Caucasian. To fulfill the federal grant, the Space Foundation will provide teacher training as well as assessment tools and evaluation analysis in Kona. Training consists of both teacher and student needs assessment, curriculum design and development, face-to-face teacher training throughout each year, distance learning modules, and baseline and ongoing testing of students. Sessions took place in January, are currently being conducted the first week of May, and will resume in August. The Space Foundation also has conducted training in the Integrated Science and Literacy Model in Wimea, Hawaii, and Colorado Springs, Colo. The Space Foundation has trained more nearly 40,000 teachers since 1986 through Summer Institute graduate courses and national conferences. In addition, the Space Foundation fosters educational space endeavors by managing the on-site NASA Educational Resource Center; offering two distinct Master’s in Space Studies Degrees in conjunction with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Regis University; offering the Lucy Enos Memorial Scholarship for Teachers; annually conducting the Space Career Fair; and offering a free online lesson bank for educators. About the Space Foundation Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and educational excellence. The Space Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Space Foundation’s signature event, the National Space Symposium, is scheduled for April 9-12, 2007, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. Along with partnering organizations, the Space Foundation also conducts Strategic Space and Defense, 10-12 Oct. 2006 in Omaha, Neb.; and Florida Space, Dec. 5-7, 2006. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.