When Maryland adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in 2013, STEM leaders in Prince George's County Public Schools, home to more than 130,000 diverse students, knew it would take a comprehensive effort to ensure that all students were included.
“I think the whole notion of equity and access from day one should start from preschool, not middle school or high school, but from preschool and continue through college,” says Dr. Godfrey Rangasammy, supervisor of district K-12 science. Rangasammy and Jessica Leedy, PGCPS Middle School Literacy Coach, were recently honored for their work by tech & Learning with a Innovative Leader Award during the Delaware/Maryland/Virginia Regional Leadership Summit.
Consequently, the district has undertaken a decade-long effort to address STEM equity across all grades (pre-K-5, middle school and high school) with Rangasammy leading the effort. The focus has been on equitable access to exemplary teachers, science/STEM curricular programming, and best instructional practices. In addition to ensuring content is aligned with the NGSS, additional emphasis has been placed on student achievement and college and career readiness.
Building equity through NGSS: Be intentional
Rangasammy points to research that shows black and brown preschoolers are marginalized. “When I look at any behavior of black and brown students, whether it's suspension rates in middle school, high school, and even in society, it all starts in preschool,” she says.
Therefore, pre-K is the ideal time to start all students on the STEM path. “The excitement is there, especially in the early grades. We get kids excited and asking questions and talking about science or writing about science. You know, the lightbulb moments.”
The PGCPS STEM equity effort originally began with an internal assessment and then focused on improving engagement with new NGSS-aligned textbooks and course materials, phenomenon-based learning, hands-on activities, and creating opportunities to connect with those working in STEM fields. .
“You really have to bring in the science experts from the city, so that students can see people of the same race, ethnicity, etc., in the district,” Rangasammy says.
Collaboration is also key, Rangasammy says, both with her staff and teachers, as is capacity building. Recognizing that many teachers may have only had a few basic science courses in their own education, it is critical to address gaps in curriculum and pedagogy through external audits and connecting with experts. It is necessary for everyone to get involved and invest.
“In my office I keep telling my parents: 'Change is a concept. Go with that. It will be here and you will be here when you leave, it will still be here,'” she says.
And, of course, involving the community is also essential. Since science was not initially taught until second grade, Rangasammy pushed to start STEM Fridays during summer school, which features fun hands-on activities like coding and robotics, as well as sending home hands-on manipulatives. “The kids loved it, so the parents loved it too,” says Rangasammy. “Also, the focus there was 40% ELD. So that's the marginalized population and trying to support them to reach a level where they can compete with all the children.”
'Curiosity is priceless'
The district has also embraced phenomenon-based learning and is connecting it to real-world situations, such as studying the nearby Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. As an example of hands-on learning, ninth-grade students grow live mussels in tanks in their classrooms, verifying and analyzing data on pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen turbidity, and other factors.
The district also encourages participation in its annual science fair, which is now in its 76th year, making it one of the oldest in the country. They recruit STEM organizations to participate and provide scholarships. “We've had winners who happen to be black and brown kids, so we know we can make a difference,” Rangasammy says. “We can challenge the status quo and we can change it, but we have to be consistent. So it takes a lot of work. The vision is good, but you have to make an effort. Plus, the right people have to be in the right place to want to do the heavy lifting.”
Ultimately, Rangasammy says NGSS is focused on supporting underserved populations and reaching children where they are, from preschool to age 12.
“Curiosity is priceless,” says Rangasammy. “That covers all socioeconomic groups, right?”
