HOSP inspires people, businesses and leaders to get involved in preserving the opportunity for all young people to experience science, live, in the classroom throughout their formal education experience.

Why is this important?

The quality of education in the U.S. is the stuff of movies, documentaries, news articles and a favorite topic of the media. The education system at the federal level typically focuses on broad ranging purposes (like the intention behind No Child Left behind) and nationwide educational policies (like national educational standards). Well intended ideas that lack adequate funding and coordinated systems of implementation.

At the state level, we face 50 separate systems that are and sometimes are not connected to the federal system. Textbook adoptions, teacher preparation and certification, as well as individual district programs and curriculum complete the complicated and interwoven “picture” of our educational system.

When it comes to the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and math, here is what our years of experience, knowledge and the teachers we serve tell us:

• Students learn better when the content they are learning is relevant to their lives
• Relevant content makes even more sense when students are able to experience the different pieces of that content through experimentation, observation, discussion and recording
• Teachers need ongoing professional development in both content and methods to make sure they are supporting student achievement
• Teachers need high quality materials, tools, programs and curriculum in order to succeed in a STEM classroom today