Complete information about thousands of teaching materials for K-12 math and science. Thousands of web sites for educators and students. Support for long-term classroom planning and professional development. If you are going to support reform efforts and deep change, you have to think seriously about breaking the old molds and look at new ways of thinking. If the leadership does not come from the superintendent, the teaching staff and other administrators have absolutely no reason to have any investment in this.
Superintendents have to be passionate about change.
Calling their effort the First in the World Consortium, educators from the 19 participating school districts have developed partnerships with the U.S. Department of Education, other governmental agencies, and local and national businesses. They began their work by asking how districts could benchmark their math and science achievement, and what they could do to guarantee they were providing a world-class education for their students. A commitment to providing professional development is an essential component of the Consortium's mission. The groups construct findings that will guide staff development. Over time, the networks might decide to reorganize or combine efforts to better serve the needs of member districts.