Project Summary

In partnership with Hezel Associates, The Education Alliance conducted primary data collection for a formative evaluation of Rhode Island’s implementation of the Physics First program. The Physics First program reorders the traditional high school science curriculum sequence to begin with the teaching of physics in the ninth grade, followed by chemistry and biology in the tenth and eleventh grades.

Six schools were selected as Physics First pilot sites to undergo summer professional development for teachers. Participating teachers also received ongoing, job-embedded professional development during the school year. The rearranged sequence of courses has shown promise in engaging students in science and also integrating mathematics skills such as graphing and organizing data into their study of science.

The Alliance worked with Hezel Associates in developing research instruments, and conducting interviews, focus groups and school visits across the six program sites. The Alliance also observed the professional development sessions held during the summer. The Alliance report summaries were incorporated along with additional survey data into the Hezel report for the evaluation of the Physics First program.