One reason the Van Programs have been a success is because of the supportive relationship between the three collaborating institutions: Chicago Public Schools, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Chicago State University.

The author would like to thank Gloria Pritikin, Joel Hofslund, Samuel Bowen, Michael Mimnaugh, and Sharon McCarthy for co-leading the Chicago Collaborative and providing continuous feedback and advice. Roy Coleman, Megan McDonnell, Brad Noren, Lee Slick (CPS), Carl Martikean (Proviso Math and Science Academy), Sr. Maureen Fallon (St. Scholastica Academy) and Lorne Nash (CSU) have been instrumental in co-teaching the van institute and making the program a success. Ray Kujawa and Janet Dryjanski at CSU have provided essential technical and administrative support. Michael Lach and Marty Gartzman in the Office of Math and Science at Chicago Public Schools have been strong supporters of the program since its beginning and have provided both logistical and financial support. Finally, we would like to thank the hard working Chicago Area Teachers who have participated in the program since spring 2003. It was extremely exciting for us to work with such a talented and thoughtful group of teachers.

The majority of this work is supported by a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) through the Improving Teacher Quality State Grant Program. Additional funding has come from the American Physical Society (APS) through its Physics on the Road Program as part of the World Year Physics 2005. We are very grateful to both these organizations for their support. Additional information can be found on the Physics Van website at: http://www.csu.edu/ChemistryAndPhysics/csuphysvan.