The document provides a list of community resources that can help increase parent involvement in science education and support teachers. These include education programs from organizations like the EPA, LACOE, and California Science Center that offer trainings, activities, field trips and volunteer opportunities. The document also mentions resources for obtaining classroom materials through donations from Amgen and opportunities for students to participate in programs like the National Weather Service's Cooperative Observer Program for hands-on learning. Collectively these resources allow for greater collaboration between parents, teachers and external organizations to enhance science education.

1. Community Resources
Gabriel Gonzales
Melissa Valdez
MTE/569CA

2. The Importance of Parent-teacher
Communication and Collaboration
 Parents and educators work as team in the education of our children.
 Educational accountability is no longer the sole responsibility of the school. Parent involvement ensure they are held
accountable as well.
 Issues can be addressed quickly by having open lines of communication as well as preplanned method of
communication.
 Parents are stakeholders in the education of their children.
 With parents involved, available human resources increase for extracurricular activities like fieldtrips, class room help,
and the potential sharing of expert science knowledge that parents bring.
 Based on a National Education Association (2015) website report, parent involvement has the following positive
effects on student performance:
Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs
Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits
Attend school regularly
Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school
Graduate and go on to postsecondary education

3. Ways to Increase Parent Involvement in
Science Education
 Education trainings: Tips and suggestions on how they can become involved
(Science concepts explained and procedures)
 Communication: Communicate with them through all means possible
(E-mail, notes, class site, text messages, phone calls and meetings)
 Volunteer Programs: Offer parents the opportunity to come and work in their child’s classroom
(Prepare for labs, have parents work on investigations)
 Open House Game Night: Engage parents and students while establishing relationships
(Engaging quick experiments, collaboration predications)
 Home Activities: Create activity packs for families to complete at home.
(Investigations, experiments, explorations)
 http://teaching.about.com/od/ParentalInvolvement/a/Parental-Involvement-In-Education.htm

4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Service Learning: Education Beyond the Classroom-EPA
This booklet contains several service-learning projects that focus on areas of
safe solid waste management, such as recycling, composting, and reducing
household hazardous waste.
There are resources and contacts located in booklet to get your class involved.
Teachers can get students motivated in working together and can involve the
school and home community. Collaboration and teamwork is taking place, all while
protecting our environment.
 www.epa.gov/osw/education/pdfs/svclearn.pdf

5. Los Angeles County Office of Education
Student Services, Technology, School Improvement and Curriculum and Instruction
LACOE has a list of resources online and their office is located in Downey, CA, within
reach for our local teachers. They have programs and services that assist teachers,
students and their families.
Their science page offers online courses, NGSS and STEM assistance and plenty of
resourceful ideas . These resources will transfer into our classroom and transfer out into
student communities at home by teachers receiving well rounded resource instruction.
http://www.lacoe.edu/CurriculumInstruction/ScienceEdFieldStudy.aspx

6. California Science Center
Programs, Activities and Events
The California Science Center is not just a science museum, they offer many
programs for everyone in the community. They have onsite and offsite programs,
camps, community youth programs, professional development and special events.
They have a huge community science fair, visits, films and exhibits that families can
join in on the learning experience. This resource would serve as an extension of what
learning concepts have been covered and other discoveries they will make on their
own.
http://californiasciencecenter.org/programs

7. Community Resources for Science
CRS
This site is dedicated to giving opportunities to teachers to enhance their knowledge
and skills to transfer to their students and their families. They have planning, services,
online resources, science events and field trips for teachers.
Teachers are able to experience these resources then transfer over their new found
strategies and apply them in their classroom. They are hands on and collaboration is
key.
http://www.crscience.org/

8. Visiting Geoscientists
This is an outreach program developed to assist Geoscience Professional in developing
curricula for K-12 science classes. The program is an intermediary which bring scientists
working in resource and environmental companies, research institutes, state and federal
agencies, and even college and university departments.
Through the program, the professional contacts the teacher or vice versa to set up a visit.
The professional then gives the class a presentation/lesson with activities about his or her field
of expertise as well as explaining the science behind it.
http://www.agiweb.org/education/aapg/

9. BYOD
BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE
This program was set up by the Oxnard School High School District for the purpose of
increasing technology use in the classroom. Students and parents sign an acceptable use
agreement before they are allowed to bring their device to school.
This is a great opportunity for both teacher and student to increase opportunities for learning
in not only science classrooms but all subjects. With advent of smart phones with many
capabilities, students will have a better chance to engage in available online resources
aligned with the subject matter and curriculum.
http://www.ouhsd.k12.ca.us/divisions/administrative-services/information-technology-
services/byod/

10. Amgen Equipment Donations
This is a program offering public school the opportunity to augment their science curriculum
equipment and supplies needs. Amgen donates the following equipment to school in North
America and Puerto Rico:
 Lab equipment including incubators, hoods, water baths, freezer/refrigerators, and high
performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) components.
 Lab glassware, lab coats, stationery supplies, racking, plastic bottles and other various lab-
specific consumables.
This is a great opportunity for the Biology program to begin the practical application of
biotechnology in the lab if the supplies are not available. In addition, Amgen has a program
where professionals within the biotech industry visit schools and make presentations.
http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/amgen_equipment_donations.html

11. Cooperative Observer Program
National Weather Service
Located close by in Oxnard, CA, the National Weather Service field office is a great place to
visit and provide students with a first hand experience on how weather stations work and
operate. In addition, the NWS has a program called the Cooperative Observer Program
where anyone can make observations and submit data to the NWS field office. It is a data
collection program with the purpose of gathering long term local weather information.
This is an opportunity for science teachers to engage their students in data collection while
studying weather phenomenon. Actual data taken by students is used to develop weather
local weather maps. Training is provided by the NWS local offices. A fieldtrip can be
planned to visit and train all in one.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/what-is-coop.html

12. References
 Amgen Equipment Donations
http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/amgen_equipment_donations.html
 BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
http://www.ouhsd.k12.ca.us/divisions/administrative-services/information-technology-services/byod/
 California Science Center
http://californiasciencecenter.org/programs
 Cooperative Observers Programs – National Weather Service
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/what-is-coop.html
 CRS
http://www.crscience.org/
 LACOE
http://www.lacoe.edu/CurriculumInstruction/ScienceEdFieldStudy.aspx
 National Education Association
https://www.nea.org/tools/17360.htm
 Service Learning: Education Beyond the Classroom-EPA
www.epa.gov/osw/education/pdfs/svclearn.pdf
 Visiting Geoscientist
http://www.agiweb.org/education/aapg/