TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview The Current State of K-12 Science Education Reform A Prescription for Strong Science Education The Mission & Methodology Of The Bayer Facts Of Science Education I, II & III Surveys Key Questions From The Bayer Facts Of Science Education Surveys How important is a basic knowledge of science for us and for our children? How interested are we in science and how comfortable are we explaining science to our children? How well do we currently teach science? Does today's science education meet the needs of our workforce? Do our children get the resources they need for a high quality science education at school and at home? How can we make sure our children get the best possible education in science? Recommendations By Survey Participants So if we all agree, what's the problem? References Afterword

As a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences, chemicals and imaging technologies, Bayer has a strong stake in helping to improve science education and to insure that all individuals are scientifically literate. Its continuing commitment to these issues is demonstrated by Bayer's company-wide program, Making Science Make Sense (MSMS), a two-pronged initiative that supports hands-on, inquiry-based science programs and promotes science literacy.

Nearly 30 years ago in Elkhart, Indiana, MSMS was born when Bayer volunteers reached out to their community schools to help teachers teach and students learn science the way scientists do - by doing it. Today, in more than 15 local Bayer site communities across the country, hundreds of volunteers work to foster science literacy and bring science alive by exposing their communities' children to hands-on, inquiry-based science on a regular basis.

MSMS relies on a number of important national and local partnerships. Nationally, Bayer has forged relationships with the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation and the National Science Resources Center (a joint project of The Smithsonian Institution and the National Academy of Sciences) to change the way science is taught and learned in the classroom.

Locally, Bayer is spearheading important curriculum changes in a number of its site community schools by creating partnerships with school districts, other businesses, government and education organizations. Together, they work to implement "Science & Technology for Children," the inquiry-based, hands-on science curriculum developed by the National Science Resources Center.

In addition to the school programs, Bayer's national science literacy campaign features several public education components. These include the MSMS Experiments Guide for parents and children and Everyday Science, a radio program broadcast over public radio stations nationwide.

The Bayer Facts of Science Education surveys also are part of the MSMS science literacy campaign. By gauging the state of science education in the U.S., they help to measure the public's support for reform and recognition of the roles that science and science literacy play and will continue to play in our and our children's lives.

By summarizing the survey results in this document, Bayer wishes to provide important background for those who help set and oversee science education policy. The company invites national science and education experts, as well as elected local, state and national officials to utilize it. They, and others, including the media, may reproduce this report, either in whole or in part, with proper credit given to Bayer.


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