Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education (ACESSE)

Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education (ACESSE)

The Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education (ACESSE, or “access”) project brings together partners to improve equity by building coherence in science education. The NSF- funded project is based on a deep collaboration between the University of Colorado Boulder, the Council of State Science Supervisors, and the University of Washington.

Educators are frequently asked to implement initiatives that do not share a common vision for teaching and learning. This incoherence can reinforce inequities and challenge schools that are already struggling with accountability pressures or assessment systems.

To that end, the initial ACESSE project convened 13 state science teams over the course of three years (2016-2020). These teams co-designed resources to support adoption of the Framework vision in ways that advance equity and access for all students, often using formative assessment as a lever for change. ACESSE supported educators as they implemented these modules in the classroom, analyzing the impact on teacher practices.

The ACESSE project is deepening and expanding our work, with a focus on culture-based pedagogies. The new ACESSE project:

• Expands this project from 13 to 50+ state science teams, scaling the dissemination of tools across communities and supporting increased equity for more learners.
• Extends tool topics to help teachers connect 3D science and engineering learning to the interests, goals, knowledge, and experiences of youth and their communities. We support state leaders to monitor their progress integrating culture-based pedagogies into professional development and supporting alignment within their state.
• Convenes national and regional “unconferences” to develop, adapt, and refine ACESSE tools in ways that support culturally relevant instruction within local contexts.
• Builds knowledge about how a network of state teams can promote coherent guidance for culturally based instruction in local districts and schools.

Explore the resources developed through this collaboration.

Follow the ACESSE project on Twitter.

* If your state is are part of the ACESSE project but not already a member of CSSS, please consider joining.

The Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education (ACESSE, or “access”) project brings together partners from educational research and practice to improve equity by building coherence in science education. The project is based on a deep collaboration between the University of Colorado Boulder, the Council of State Science Supervisors, and the University of Washington.

Educators are frequently asked to implement state and local initiatives that do not share a common vision for teaching and learning or cohere with one another. This incoherence can reinforce educational inequities. It provides an extra challenge for schools that are already struggling with accountability pressures or assessment systems. To that end, the ACESSE project is bringing together educators and researchers to collaboratively research, develop, and pilot strategies to make science education more coherent and equitable.

Strategies and resources that come from this project are being around the country through networks of science education leaders. The strategies are grounded in the vision of A Framework for K-12 Education, and they focus on formative assessment as a leverage point for improvement. The ACESSE project is testing and iteratively refining resources and strategies that educators and researchers identify and design together. Follow the project on Twitter. 

The resources developed through this collaboration can be found on the Resource Tab.