Santa Ana : Grant to Encourage Scientific Incentive
The Santa Ana Unified School District has received a $1.5-million grant from the National Science Foundation to encourage student interest in science, engineering and mathematics.
The Partnership for Reform in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) Program will serve as a model for school districts nationwide, said district spokeswoman Diane Thomas. It will include teacher development programs, student and staff leadership incentives and hands-on classroom lessons.
The program is based on the district’s Student/Teacher Education Project, which teams school and local college faculties to work together to strengthen the curriculum. Parents also participate by assisting in evening academic workshops for families and students, Thomas said.
The PRISM program will affect more than 10,000 students at Santa Ana High School, Willard Intermediate, and Carver, Fremont, Heninger, Lowell, Pio Pico, Santiago and Wilson elementary schools. Community businesses and parents and college students from UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Chapman University and Rancho Santiago will help implement programs at those Santa Ana schools.
The project will be coordinated by Susan Despenas, assistant to the superintendent, and UCI professors Eloy Rodriguez and George Miller.
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