Description:  CATALyST, a regional science and mathematics education center housed in the School of Biological Sciences, focuses on improving the scientific and mathematical understanding of K-12 teachers, students, and parents in the public school systems with which it partners. It promotes science and mathematics education and maximizes regional educational resources by offering a menu of professional development activities and model programs to K-12 schools, teachers, administrators, university faculty, parents, students, and providers of preschool education and day care. A major focus of the center is the development of long-term professional development programs for K-12 teachers that are custom designed to meet the needs of the partnering school systems. In addition, CATALyST houses on-going nationally recognized professional development programs for K-12 teachers from throughout Louisiana and surrounding states. CATALyST disseminates information on regional educational opportunities and programs via a CATALyST website, electronic networking, newsletters, and news releases. CATALyST sponsors a local newspaper column, CATALyST Conundrums, that invites students grades 4-8 to submit written solutions to science or math puzzlers; best answers and names and schools of all students submitting correct responses are published in the following column. CATALyST also sponsors the Journal of K-12 Research in Science and Mathematics. The journal publishes student-written articles describing science investigations and mathematics projects conducted by students in grades 4-12. CATALyST is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and funds from partnering organizations. A variety of federal and state funds support specific programs.

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Web Site:  http://catalyst.latech.edu