Abstract: Science education standards established by American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS) and the National Research Council (NRC) urge less emphasis on memorizing scientific
facts and more emphasis on students investigating the everyday world and developing deep understanding
from their inquiries. These approaches to instruction challenge teachers and students, particularly urban
students who often have additional challenges related to poverty. We report data on student learning
spanning 3 years from a science education reform collaboration with the Detroit Public Schools. Data were
collected from nearly 8,000 students who participated in inquiry-based and technology-infused curriculum
units that were collaboratively developed by district personnel and staff from the University of Michigan as
part of a larger, district-wide systemic reform effort in science education. The results show statistically
significant increases on curriculum-based test scores for each year of participation. Moreover, the strength
of the effects grew over the years, as evidenced by increasing effect size estimates across the years. The
findings indicate that students who historically are low achievers in science can succeed in standards-based,
inquiry science when curriculum is carefully developed and aligned with professional development and
district policies. Additional longitudinal research on the development of student understanding over
multiple inquiry projects, the progress of teacher enactment over time, and the effect of changes in the
policy and administrative environment would further contribute to the intellectual and practical tools
necessary to implement meaningful standards-based systemic reform in science.