2006 Highlights

• Dr. Haskins took advantage of her position as a member of the Governor's Commission on the Future of Space And Aeronautics in Florida to recommend the establishment of a Florida Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research which was subsequently put into law (Florida Statute 1004.86).  CIMS isin the process of marketing the package, which include many of the recommendations of the first Florida Summit on Mathematics & Science Education.
• Another outcome of the Governor's Commission was the formation of Space Florida which is tasked with improving Florida's space industry sector. This task includes a workforce development subtask that has been funded for 2006-2007 for over one million dollars. CIMS is providing input for how those dollars might be most profitably spent.

NASSMC State Summits Implementation Program (NSSIP): The Florida Coalition for Improving Mathematics and Science Education (CIMS) hosted a Summit on Mathematics and Science Education February 2-3, 2005. Legislators, the Governor's office, Florida Department of Education officials, business and industry representatives, and science and mathematics educators at all levels participated in a day-and-a-half meeting to establish a common understanding of the need for science and mathematics literacy in our workforce; the challenges of today's schools; effective methods of science and mathematics instruction; the nature and dimensions of creating change in mathematics and science instruction; and action plans necessary to achieve them. The Summit goal was to Enhance Florida's Economic Development by Preparing Its Workforce in Science and Mathematics.

Florida is one of the states featured in the Linking Leaders Community for Change Book. Click the image to go to the Linking Leaders book main page and learn more about Florida's Linking Leaders program activities.

Under grants from the National Alliance of State Science & Mathematics Coalitions and from the Aerospace States Association, CIMS conducts annual surveys of elementary level teacher perceptions of the effect of state policies on mathematics, science, and technology education in Florida. CIMS is a major player in the design and oversight of a statewide professional development program funded by state appropriations of $2,500,000 for 2000/1 and $3,000,000 for 2001/2. CIMS arranges and hosts annual briefings for legislators and their staff prior to the beginning of the legislative sessions. We acknowledge gratefully the support of the American Chemical Society, the National Science Teachers Association, and NASSMC for this activity. CIMS works with Florida legislators in behalf of passage of legislation that will continue and increase funding for the statewide program of teacher professional development in science, mathematics, and technology. CIMS is providing leadership for long-term planning of statewide mathematics and science professional development. It coordinates and leads preparation of statewide proposals to NSF and other agencies by constituting planning groups and organizing and leading their meetings.

NES Partnerships for Sustainability: The NES Partnerships for Sustainability Program was launched in 2003 as a pilot to gauge the effectiveness of state-based coalitions working in active collaboration with the NASA Explorer Schools. CIMS, in partnership with the Oscar Patterson Elementary Magnet School, Carol City Elementary School, Howard Bishop Middle School and Garland Steward Magnet Middle School, was awarded a NES Partnerships for Sustainability grant to facilitate NES students' participation in regional and statewide STEM competitions.

Linking Leaders: The Coalition for Improving Math and Science Education in Florida (CIMS) is a major player in the design and oversight of a statewide professional development program funded at $2,500,000 for 2001. CIMS holds periodic statewide meetings of stakeholders in mathematics and science education. CIMS continues to work with Florida legislators on passage of legislation that continues and increases funding for a statewide program of teacher professional development in science, mathematics, and technology. CIMS is largely responsible for legislation that has added a science component to the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test effective in 2003 (mathematics was already included). This was a direct result of the NASA Linking Leaders Program in 1998. The coalition has been instrumental in securing from the Florida legislature an annual budget of $3,000,000 for professional development of K-8 teachers in Mathematics and Science. The NASA Kennedy Space Center and the Astronaut Memorial Foundation (AMF) have made their facilities available for statewide meetings.