"Reversing the sobering academic statistics that show U.S. students running well behind students in other countries in science and math is the task at hand. Recent PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) data ranks the U.S. a dismal 17th in science and 25th in math out of 64 other developed countries. …"

• Solution 1: Orange County Middle School Science Initiative of Science@OC. The goal of the Orange County Middle School Science Initiative is to improve the teaching and learning of science to better prepare students for high school coursework, reversing the science "drop-out" trend that begins in the middle school years. Success in middle school is critical for a student to advance in the study of science, and science teachers must be competent in both content and process.
• Solution 2: The goal of National Lab Network Orange County is to provide resources for educators and students that reach beyond the classroom from the STEM professional community. Real world application, relevancy, personal passion, and career options can best be introduced to students by those willing to share their first- hand experiences.

The middle level (grades 6-8) students benefit from good research-based, hands-on science instruction, middle level science teacher benefit from rigorous professional development and administrative support for science, and the community benefits from the culture changing opportunities granted in particular to minority and low social economic students who are prepared for STEM careers. The current impact of the Orange County Middle School Science Initiative is 10,500 students in the Santa Ana Unified and Buena Park School Districts. Six other Orange County districts showing low student achievement on the California Achievement Test at the 8th grade level in science will be added to the program in 2012. The student impact of these additional districts would be an additional 28,900 students.

Student achievement in science is measured through the California Achievement Test given each spring to all 8th grade students. The goal is to get all students to have an understanding of science at the proficient and advanced levels. The student impact is measured by student populations that are receiving exemplary science instruction throughout the districts. Teacher impact is measured by the number of teachers receiving the highest standard of professional development as identified by the National Research Council. Community impact will be measured by the number of minority students that graduate from high school who are pursuing STEM careers through in higher education institutions.

• 2012 Student Achievement gains in 8th Grade Science on CAT
• 2012 Six new Districts complete Strategic Plans for Science at LASER Institute (Feb. 12-17)
• 2012 50% of Orange County Districts have posted successful NLN Projects
• 2012 25 Businesses have registered STEM Professionals and responded to Educator needs
• 2013 Science@OC expands into prek-5 Science in Orange County
• 2013 Science@OC expands into 9-12 Science in Orange County
• 2013 100% of Orange County Districts have posted successful NLN Projects
• 2013 50 Businesses have registered STEM Professionals and responded to Educator needs