Directions: Think of a school and district in which you have had experience(s).  Answer each question with a YES or NO, even if some of the questions deal with a grade level with which you are unfamiliar.

Science Education in General
Does the implementation of your district's/school's science instruction and curriculum:
____ 1. In corporate hands-on activities on a regular basis?
____ 2. Include cooperative learning activities routinely?
____ 3. Emphasize problem solving and content equally?
____ 4. Allow students opportunities to talk about their science learning?
____ 5. Relate textbook knowledge to the science in the everyday lives of our culturally
            diverse society?
____ 6. Include career information on a regular basis?
____ 7. Include role models who represent both the genders and people of different racial,
            cultural, and linguistic groups for students to interact with on a regular basis?
____ 8. Ensure equal experiences for all students with available technology/equipment?
____ 9. Promote the integration of the science curriculum with other core disciplines (such
            as literature, language arts, mathematics, and social studies)?
____ 10. Aim at developing and encouraging positive attitudes for teachers, administrators parents, and students
            toward science?
____ 11.  Develop and monitor partnerships with science and industry that include participation and representation of
               both genders and people of different racial, cultural, and linguistic groups?
____ 12. Assess students with performance based criteria that emphasize the open ended nature of science and the
               importance of using language for description and questioning?

____ 13. Ensure that counselors, teaching staff, and parents are aware of strategies that encourage equitable
            participation of female and minority students in science?
____ 14. Monitor all teaching materials (filmstrips, videos, textbooks, posters, bulletin board displays) for their equal
            representation of both genders and people of different racial, cultural, and linguistic groups in the science
            community?
Science in Pre-K- Upper Elementary
In supporting your science curriculum, does your district/school:

____ 15. Provide inservice training for all teachers to update and improve their science instruction skills?
____ 16. Support and train teachers who are uncomfortable teaching science?
____ 17. Emphasize accountability for teaching science on a regular basis in all classrooms?
____ 18. Encourage and facilitate out-of-school learning experiences at all levels and for all skill groups?
____ 19. Monitor extracurricular science activities (such as annual science fairs) for equitable representation of
            students of both genders and of different racial, cultural, and linguistic groups?
____ 20. Establish guidelines for science fair projects that de-emphasize the 'wow" effect of experiments and encourage
            children to formulate their own questions and explore science in their own natural environments?
____ 21. Publicly acknowledge its strong commitment to science as an integral part of the school curriculum, rather
            than as enrichment?
____ 22. Provide assistance for teachers in obtaining the necessary materials and equipment for teaching science with an
            experimental emphasis?
____ 23. Form partnerships with parents to define their roles in supporting science education for their children?
____ 24. De-emphasize the textbook approach to science in favor of an experience-based approach?
____ 25. Do outreach efforts that include parents who are representative of the entire student population on decisions
            regarding science activities and explorations with children?

Science in Secondary School
In supporting your science program, does your district/school:

____ 26. Make sure that students of both genders and of different racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds have equal
            access to all science courses?
____ 27. Require all students to take a core set of courses in biological and physical sciences that integrate both
            quantitative and descriptive methodologies?
____ 28. Monitor course content so that no student is left with a 'watered down" science curriculum?
____ 29. Make sure that all selections from the core set of courses are comparable (e.g., home economics cannot
            substitute for biology)?
____ 30. Monitor enrollments for equitable representation of students of both genders and of racial, cultural, and
        linguistic groups in advanced placement classes?
____ 31. Monitor lab partner assignments so that students share equally in all aspects of lab work, including setting up,
        conducting the experiment, writing the lab report, and cleaning up?
____ 32. Assign highly qualified teachers to core science courses, making sure that they are representative of both
        genders and of different racial, cultural, and linguistic groups?
____ 33. Monitor career day programs for representation from a variety of science careers with career models who
        represent the diversity within the school community?
____ 34. Ensure that counselors and teaching staff affirm and promote the participation of students of both genders and
        of different racial, cultural, and linguistic groups in science related careers?
____ 35. Ensure that students have equal experience with extracurricular activities (such as science clubs, science fairs,
        or a "Science Olympiad" program)?
____ 36. Form partnerships with parents to define their roles in supporting the science education and future careers of
        their children?
 
 

Score the Checklist
Score ONE POINT for each YES answer.

I. Science Education in General
If you have responded to the entire checklist, then score one point for each of the questions in part 1(1-14), one point for each of the questions in part 11(15-25), and one point for each of the questions in part III (26-36).

30-36 points: Congratulations! You have equity in proper perspective.

20-29 points: Good start. Keep working at it! You have the elements of a good beginning. Examine each NO answer. Can you group any of these questions into categories? Do they fall along grade level or another category?

0-19 points: It's never too late! Examine the areas where you were able to respond positively. What has made it possible for these to be incorporated for science education in your district/school? Then examine the questions where you responded negatively. Try to identify possible barriers and solutions to bring your school/district up to a more equitable level of educating all students in science.