Science Education in Wisconsin
The study of science allows Wisconsin students to experience richness and excitement of the natural world. As adults they will face complex questions requiring scientific thinking, reasoning, and the ability to make informed decisions. Scientific knowledge prepares students for the future and helps them acquire new knowledge and skills to hold meaningful and productive jobs. The standards recognize that science is for ALL students-- the essence of science literacy.
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) public draft will be available from May 11, 2012 through June 1, 2012. Click here to find a copy of a draft to review.
The State Superintendent’s science leadership team is asking you to take the following survey once you preview the standards. Please click here for the survey.
The team is hosting a number of preview sessions, plan to attend one! The sessions are listed after the background information.
Background:
Step One: Getting the Science Right, The National Research Council (NRC), the staff arm of the National Academy of Sciences, began by developing the Framework for K–12 Science Education. The Framework was a critical first step because it is grounded in the most current research on science and science learning and identified the science all K–12 students should know. The NRC released the final Framework on July 19, 2011. Read more about the Framework online here.
Step Two: States Developing Next Generation Science Standards, in a process managed by Achieve, states will lead the development of K–12 science standards, rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally-benchmarked science education. The NGSS will be based on the Framework and will prepare students for college and careers. The standards will be published on this website when they are completed, in late 2012 or early 2013. For details about NGSS click here.
NGSS Preview Sessions can be viewed here.
Links
Science Equivalency Resources and Links
Evolution Position Statement
In 1982 the department released a position statement on the teaching of evolution in the science classroom. The department has just updated that statement. A copy of the position statement,
On the Nature of Science and the Teaching of Evolution, can be obtained at
Evolution Position Statement.
Professional Associations
CONTACT: Shelley Lee, Science Consultant
For questions about this information, contact Shelley A. Lee (608) 266-3319
Last updated on 5/11/2012 2:44:27 PM
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