Supporting a state in developing a working theory of improvement for promoting equity in science education

Introduction This study was undertaken to explore the potential of developing a working theory of improvement for creating a more equitable system of science education at the level of a US state. We ask: How can tools from a long-term research-practice partnership support a state team in initiating improvement research toward promoting a more equitable system of science education?Methods This design study took place in winter 2024 in a single state. External partners supported leaders of a single state in the US Northeast to support a process of articulating aims, specifying primary and secondary drivers, and identifying change strategies to promote a more equitable system of science education in the state, grounded in the vision of A Framework for K-12 Science Education (National Research Council, 2012). In this paper, we rely on descriptive analyses of joint meetings and a focus group with state leaders describe the tools supporting the process of development, the team's use of the tools to generate an early draft of the Driver Diagram, and issues surfaced while developing it with a team of interest holders in the state.Results Two meanings of equity emerged as significant within the series of meetings: that of the importance of universal access to professional learning and the importance of students having opportunities to experience culturally relevant instruction. The issues surfaced highlighted the need for infrastructures for professional learning to reach a diverse group of interest holders in science, including teachers, school leaders, and district leaders across the state. They also saw curriculum materials that connect to students' everyday lives and community priorities as key drivers for equitable change in the system, around which professional learning activities should be organized. The team also surfaced several policy changes needed to implement change strategies, only some of which team members felt they had some authority.Discussion Where past researchers have observed that equity can disappear as a focus during implementation of reforms, this study found that developing an aim statement and driver diagram helped energize and refocus a team's implementation efforts geared toward a vision for science teaching and learning that is focused on ensuring all students can engage in meaningful science learning that is culturally and locally relevant to them.