Full Option Science System (FOSS)

The Full Option Science System™ (FOSS) philosophy is to engage students in science through active learning.  Each edition shares the same research-based strategies that the FOSS developers at the Lawrence Hall of Science have been refining for more than 25 years.

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Active Hands-on Science Learning

The Full Option Science System™ (FOSS) philosophy is to engage students in science through active learning. Whether you want to generally embrace the vision of A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012) or follow more closely the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) with the integration of the Common Core State Standards in ELA and Math, there's a FOSS edition that will support your goals. Each edition shares the same research-based strategies that the FOSS developers at the Lawrence Hall of Science have been refining for more than 25 years.

Every FOSS investigation follows a similar design to provide multiple exposures to science concepts. The design includes these pedagogies:

  • Active investigation, including outdoor experiences
  • Recording in science notebooks to answer the focus question
  • Reading in FOSS Science Resources
  • Assessment to monitor progress and motivate student reflection on learning

In practice, these components are seamlessly integrated into a continuum designed to maximize every student's opportunity to learn. An instructional sequence may move from one pedagogy to another and back again to ensure adequate coverage of a concept.

Early College Program

Early College is an innovative and rigorous partnership between Raritan Valley Community College and the High School. Students satisfy their high school requirements and accumulate valuable college credits and credentials on their own high school campus 
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Dynamic Relationship

1. Early College is an innovative and rigorous partnership between Raritan Valley College and the High School

2. Students satisfy their high school requirements and accumulate valuable college credits and credentials on their own high school campus.

Essential Ingredients
1. The high school curriculum is NOT amended from its current form, but rather enhanced for any gaps to align with the college course
2. The students must meet minimum high school GPA requirements
3. Students, if required, must meet minimum test score requirements
4. RVCC will register the high school as an additional instructional site with the Middle States Commission (accreditation board for RVCC)
5. RVCC will assess and evaluate student learning outcomes and ongoing professional development
Competitive Edge
1. RVCC has offered Early College since 2004 and refined its program over the last 14 years.
2. RVCC's programs focus on STEM education and practical training
3. During the 2017-2018 academic year, RVCC enrolled 1,743 students in some form of the Early College program. RVCC currently has over 8,000 students studying at RVCC.
4. RVCC has the ability to "customize" Early College to meet specific needs
5. RVCC can offer innovative, flexible and blended curricula; digital, dual enrollment, other recognized high school experiences (AP, IB) etc.
6. All credits appear on an official RVCC transcript 
Impressive Outcomes
Over the history of Early College, students have continued their education at some of America's most prestigious and highly selective institutions:
- Princeton University
- Cornell University
- University of California - Berkeley
- NYU
- MIT
etc.
Benefits - Why Offer an Early College Program?
1. Students engage with challenging academic work
2. Student learning outcomes are richer and deeper
3. Early College  accelerates degree attainment at a fraction of the cost
4. Students explore potential academic (and career) pathways

Quest for Space

This easy-to-launch STEM program inspires students to learn a variety of 21st Century disciplines while running experiments on the International Space Station.
Students engage in science and engineering by developing an experiment on the ground which is then conducted on the ISS utilizing the LEGO Mindstorms® or Arduino* coding environment. This unique program sparks creativity and collaboration, develops problem-solving skills, and STEM Literacy

We look forward to hearing from you!

Feel free to email or call us with any questions regarding the programs mentioned above.