The Phoenix Urban Systemic Initiative (USI)
has implemented reforms of the teaching and learning of
science, mathematics, and technology in 77 elementary (K-8)
schools and 8 high schools in the Phoenix inner city.
The USI encompasses reforms in eight elementary districts (53,300 students), and with Arizona State University (43,000 students) is creating a culture for learning and change by empowering the entire learning community to facilitate and enable on-going systemic changes.
The primary math/science reform strategies are curriculum reform and the retraining of all teachers. By focusing on inservice K-12 teacher training, the Phoenix USI complements the Arizona Collaborative which is focused on preservice K-12 science and math teacher education.
The Phoenix USI is administered through the Maricopa Community College District Office; the Project Director is Ernesto Ramirez, and the Principal Investigator is Alfredo de los Santos.
Other collaborators
Diné College
Maricopa Community Colleges
Arizona Science Center
Arizona State University