What is CASTL-12?
The Collaborative on Advancing Science Teaching and Learning in K-12 (CASTL-K12) brings together entities across sectors engaged in the work of implementing Framework-inspired state level science standards. The heart of the work occurs within Topical Working Groups (Elementary Science, Retaining and Sustaining High Quality Science Educators, Empowering School and Instructional Leaders, Understanding and Navigating the Policy Conditions for Equitable Implementation) where together member organizations take on new evidence-based actions and share lessons learned with the broader science education community.
MMSLN’s Commitment Statement
The MMSLN is a non-profit organization headquartered in Michigan and working nationally and internationally. We are committed to elevating the quality of science education for all K-12 students by providing for the development of, implementation of, support of, and leadership with, freely-accessible, open-education resources (OER) in science. We envision science education as a mechanism that supports every young learner as they explore their world, ask questions, and maintain a curious and thoughtful perspective. We promote and lead educators in crafting K-12 learning experiences in which learners engage with their place in ways that blur the lines between disciplines, while elevating science practice in socio-ecological decision-making. We support educators, through high-quality professional learning, in building systems that provide K-12 learners with environments that will elevate their sensemaking.
The MMSLN is positioned to engage with thought leaders and actors across K-12 science education spheres as we continue to act as changemakers in our field. Our work, our teams, and our goals are commitments to the development and sharing of coherent ideas connected to the inclusion of all students in science learning and the strategic development of systems that support K-12 science learning. We are particularly interested in work at the elementary level which has largely been neglected for two decades as policy changes have pressed science learning out of the elementary school day. We see science at the elementary level as part of justice work, a civil and human right that should be accessible by all educators and learners. We are focused on developing and implementing communication strategies that will support us as we advocate for and create policy changes at local, state, and national levels.
The National Academies Collaborative on Advancing Science Teaching and Learning
in K-12 (CASTL-K12) will pursue four primary goals:
- Develop a coherent strategy for supporting implementation of science standards across states and districts,
- Launch and coordinate a networked community of practice for stakeholders at all levels and across sectors,
- Build on and share existing evidence-based policies, tools, and examples, and
- Develop a coherent communication and engagement strategy for advancing K-12 science and engineering education broadly.
The MMSLN commits to supporting the goals of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Advancing Science Teaching and Learning in K-12.
Mary Starr, PhD
Executive Director, MMSLN