Science Olympiad Urban Schools Initiative News

Chicago Public Schools and Science Olympiad are proud to enter the fifth year of the Urban Schools Initiative (USI) program for 2011-2012, with nearly 30 middle and high schools represented. "After participating in Science Olympiad and winning two medals at the Regional Tournament, I decided I wanted to major in science," said a member of the Steinmetz High School Science Olympiad team. "This fall I will be attending Northeastern Illinois University majoring in Biology."

For the first three years of the pilot USI program (2008-2010), Science Olympiad provided external funding from sources like the Abbott Fund, Science Chicago and The College Board to support free materials, training, professional development, memberships and peer coaching under a "protected regional" concept. In 2011, Science Olympiad moved from the Chicago Public Schools Office of Teaching + Learning to the Office of Pathways to College and Career, which offers coaches training, tournament and workshop registration and teacher stipends. Aligning Science Olympiad to the infrastructure of after-school programs within CPS allows students to explore STEM courses and careers while they participate in science standards-based challenges.

Science Olympiad provided access to training and materials, and facilitated the 3rd Annual Build It Learn It Day on January 28, 2011. Nearly 230 students and teachers interacted with science experts from the Cook County Health Department, the US Forest Service, Texas Instruments, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, Project Exploration and the University of Illinois Chemistry REACT Program in 45-minute sessions designed to help teams prepare for the Wright College Regional Science Olympiad Tournament on Saturday, March 19, 2011.  

Six middle school and four high school teams were treated to expenses-paid VIP trips to the State Science Olympiad Tournament at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Saturday, April 16, 2011, where they toured state-of-the-art facilities, met professors and college students and participated in hands-on science activities.  The program is organized and fulfilled via the joint efforts of CPS, Science Olympiad, University of Illinois' ISTEM Education Initiative, Wright College, and Illinois Science Olympiad.

See Urban Schools Initiative for more info about how you can reach out to local businesses to find Urban Schools grant funds in your area.