Study Shows ASSET Students Significantly Outperform Peers on State Assessments

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- ASSET Inc. announced today the results of an independent evaluation that shows students participating in its standards-based science education program significantly outperformed their peers on Pennsylvania School System Assessments (PSSAs). The study, conducted by Horizon Research Inc., shows that 4th-grade students in ASSET member districts scored significantly higher than students in demographically similar comparison schools on the science, mathematics and reading PSSAs.

"This study sheds light on the transformation we've seen taking place in ASSET classrooms for 15 years. Now, as the national focus on STEM education gains momentum, ASSET is proud to highlight the success of its member districts in leading the way in systemic science education improvement efforts," said Reeny Davison, Ed.D., executive director at ASSET Inc.

ASSET, which stands for Achieving Student Success through Excellence in Teaching, is a nonprofit education improvement organization dedicated to continuously improving teaching and learning. Since its founding in 1994, ASSET has been quietly transforming the way teachers teach and students learn science through ongoing and rigorous teacher professional development aligned with standards-based, hands-on curriculum materials. Currently, ASSET serves 180 school districts, 5,000 teachers and 142,000 students.

Based on its successful approach and history of results, ASSET was selected in 2006 to design and manage the statewide Science: It's Elementary initiative in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Horizon Research, Inc. also evaluates the progress of Science: It's Elementary on an annual basis and has found that, in its third year, the initiative continues to have a positive impact on teaching, student learning and science education programs across Pennsylvania. Specifically, the 2008-09 evaluation found:

• Students tested scored significantly higher on post-tests than pre-tests.

• Students achieved greater learning gains in classes where teachers based more of their instruction on the hands-on science modules provided through the Science: It's Elementary program.

• Students achieved greater learning gains when their teacher participated in more professional development provided through the Science: It's Elementary program.

• Teachers feel more prepared to teach hands-on, inquiry-based science.

• Science is a higher priority in schools and instructional time devoted to science has increased as a result of participating in the Science: It's Elementary program.

"Science: It's Elementary has proven to be one of our most effective tools for preparing students for the high-tech, science-oriented workplace," said Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Gerald Zahorchak. "Thousands of students have benefited from this innovative instructional program, and it has proven to be a game-changer for both science instruction and student achievement in our elementary schools." 

To view ASSET's complete Results Report, please visit www.assetinc.org.

About ASSET Inc.

Established in 1994 by Bayer Corporation and several community partners, ASSET Inc. is an education improvement nonprofit dedicated to continuously improving teaching and learning. ASSET supports school districts in implementing a standards-based science education program through teacher professional development aligned with hands-on curriculum materials for grades K-8. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, ASSET also designs and manages Pennsylvania's Science: It's Elementary initiative, which garnered national attention from President Barack Obama, who singled out the program "as an example of state taking steps to encourage inquiry-based science statewide."  ASSET currently impacts 180 school districts, 5,000 teachers and 142,000 students. For more information, visit www.assetinc.org.

SOURCE ASSET Inc.