Florida PROMiSE: the perspective of three physics faculty participants.*

Florida PROMiSE has a mission \emph{``to improve Florida student achievement in mathematics and science through professional development for Florida's Educators and to build capacity to sustain quality implementation of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS).''}[1]~~We have participated in the designs and inaugural deliveries (Summer 2009) of two institutes: {\bf Matter} for K-8 teachers and {\bf Force and Motion} for 6-12 teachers. These institutes will be revised and held again in Summer 2010, and our participation will continue. The goals of this brief presentation are to increase awareness of PROMiSE and to provide an overview of our participation, especially as it relates to \emph{increasing the content knowledge of the participants}. One outcome is our increased awareness of the ``misconceptions'' that K-12 students and teachers have about physics and chemistry.[2] \newline [1] PROMiSE = Partnership to Rejuvenate \& Optimize Mathematics and Science Education (http://www.flpromise.org/).\newline [2] {\bf Atlas of Science Literacy, Volumes 1 and 2: Mapping K-12 science learning} (http://www.project2061.org).\newline *Supported, in part, by NSF DMR-0701400 (MWM), NSF DMR-0654118 (NHMFL), and the State of Florida.