ANN ARBOR—Nancy Butler Songer, associate professor in the University of Michigan’s School of Education, is urging Congress to reform the current education bill by supporting educational research and funding. Songer recently spoke to a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science as to how federally funded research centers would help educators understand how students learn math and science, and help educators become more consistent in their thinking and teachings.

Songer said students in grades K-12 would benefit the most from these research centers if educational researchers and district superintendents manage them. This type of structure would make sure educators from all levels and areas are involved in the research, recommendation and implementation of new research findings. She also said input from science and math professionals would ensure that students are learning the necessary concepts and ideas for higher education and career tracks.

Songer was able to demonstrate exactly how a federally funded research center would work by drawing examples from a current center she’s involved with called LeTUS, or Learning Technologies in Urban Schools. Focusing on Detroit Public Schools, LeTUS looks at how kids are learning and what practices and principles can help them get a deeper understanding of the subject at hand.

Along with increased learning, Songer said these centers would help align district, state, and national curricula. The centers would develop and implement quality math and science projects. As many as 10,000 students, in 250 classrooms across the United States would learn the same thing at the same time through similar projects and programs. Federally funded research centers would also make certain that national and state-wide tests measure students on what they’ve learned, not what they’ve memorized.

Another benefit of these centers is the longevity of working relationships. Songer believes education won’t advance until educators make a long-term commitment to change. With the support of research centers, it will be easier for educators to develop and sustain new programs and ideas and support and deliver the same message.

Songer was asked to testify as Congress begins to look at amendments to the current education bill. You can view her testimony in its entirety on www.house.gov/science/research/reshearings.htm

Nancy Butler SongerLearning Technologies in Urban Schoolswww.house.gov/science/research/reshearings.htm