All affiliated fairs throughout the State of California have already been informed about changes in the State Science Fair affecting their participation. The text of the letter announcing this policy is as follows:
Wednesday, October 6, 1999
<address>
Dear <name>:
On behalf of the California State Science Fair (CSSF) I want to thank you for your continued support of the State Science Fair each year. Without the cooperation of the associated Regional Fairs and specifically without the assistance of you, the Regional Fair Coordinators, there could not be a State Science Fair. Your input is important to us. If you have any questions or issues you wish to discuss, please contact me at (310) 825-6341 or by e-mail at mkabo@mednet.ucla.edu. At this time I would like to discuss with you two important issues decided by the CSSF committee that will impact your Fair's participation in the 2000 State Science Fair.
As you remember the CSSF committee decided to freeze the size of the State Science Fair at the level of 850 projects beginning in 1998. This was done to maintain the quality standards that we have set for the State Science Fair. We intend to continue this practice for the 2000 Fair.
Under this scheme, the number of projects (not numbers of students) allocated to the CSSF from each affiliated fair is determined based on the following three criteria: size of the population represented by the affiliated fair, number of projects from the affiliated fair in a five-year average of previous State Science Fairs, and number of winning projects from the affiliated fair in a five-year average of previous State Science Fairs. This is basically the scheme that was outlined at the 1997 Coordinators Conference and continued in subsequent years. Specific details on the allocation scheme can be found at the CSSF Web page at: http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/.
The allocated number of projects for your fair for the 2000 State Science Fair is <2000 allocation>. This should be compared with the <1999 allocation> projects that were allocated to your fair in 1999.
The California State Science Fair has adapted to meet the evolving educational structure within the state. Beginning in 1999 sixth graders were allowed to participate in the Junior Division of the State Science Fair in recognition of the growing number of middle schools. This practice will continue for the 2000 Fair. This means that these students will be judged with the 7th and 8th graders. As usual, it is the responsibility of the Regional Fairs to select which eligible students from their fairs will participate in the State Fair. The admission of 6th grade students will not impact the number of projects that can participate from each Regional Fair.
We trust that you and your students will agree that this is a positive approach to equity throughout the state and an overall improvement in quality of the California State Science Fair.
Yours truly,
J. Michael Kabo
Chair, 2000 California State Science Fair
The complete set of changes for the 2000 Fair which will impact any participants are given here.