State-Level Systemic Reform:
Sample Roles for a Business-Education-Policy Coalition

Participate in Setting State Standards

• Standards for content, teaching, and assessment in grades K-12
• Standards for teacher and administrator recruitment, preparation, and induction
• Standards for evaluating the performance of teachers and administrators
• Standards of system accountability (for students, schools, colleges, businesses, government)

Conduct and Report State-Level Studies

• What is the current status of the state's system of science and mathematics education?
• Are student assessments providing a adequate measure of all learning expectations?
• Are colleges and universities preparing the quality and quantity of teachers of mathematics and science needed at all levels (K-12)?
• Are teachers making appropriate use of technology in the classroom?
• Are teacher and administrator professional development programs aligned with the state content standards for K-12?
• Are teacher and administrator professional development programs effective?
• What is the status of the state's supply of qualified teachers of mathematics and science, and what is the projected demand?
• How are teachers and administrators evaluated? How are they rewarded or sanctioned based upon performance?

Inform and Engage the Public

• Explain change: help the public to understand state content and assessment standards
• Promote change: publicly declare the mathematics, science, and technology education expectations of parents, employers, and college faculties
• Document change: report progress in terms that the public, media, and policymakers can understand

Inform and Engage Higher Education

• Align all undergraduate mathematics and science instruction with K-12 state standards
• Align entrance requirements and testing programs with K-12 state standards
• Scale up professional development of college faculty
• Establish collaboration between K-12 and higher education on proposals to improve key elements of the state's systemic of mathematics, science, and technology education

Promote Coherent Education Policy

• Request an audit of state education policy
• Serve as a sounding board for the state's department of education and board of education
• Inform the governor and legislature on mathematics and science education issues
• Work with policymakers in the development, passage, and implementation of legislation

Coordinate Long-Term Continuous Improvement

• Align the programs of business, education, and government in support of state standards
• Define, gather, and interpret a broad range of system-performance indicators; insist that system change be based on what is learned rather than what is "felt"
• Devise and implement a strategy for funding a state-level coalition mathematics, science, and technology education
• Help set and evaluate coalition priorities and strategies