[WardFive] Fwd: DC State Board of Ed is Ninth to Approve the Next Generation Science Standards

Begin forwarded message:

From: "DC State Board of Education" <dcdocs@dc.gov>
Date: December 23, 2013 at 4:01:37 PM EST
To: ward5coe@gmail.com
Subject: DC State Board of Ed is Ninth to Approve the Next Generation Science Standards
Reply-To: dcdocs@dc.gov

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For Immediate Release        

Contact: Jesse B Rauch, Executive Director, 202.741.0884

 

 DC STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS NINTH TO APPROVE THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS

 

Washington, DC – Last week, at its regularly scheduled public meeting, the District of Columbia State Board of Education joined eight other states, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Vermont, Delaware, Washington, in adopting the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Developed based on the National Academies' Framework for K-12 Science Education by teams of educators and experts in 26 states, including four teachers from the District of Columbia, these new standards represent an important opportunity to improve science education and student achievement and engagement. The NGSS reflect a new vision for American science education. The new standards:

 

• Reflect the interconnected nature of science as it is practiced and experienced in the real world;
• Are aligned with and support the Common Core State Standards for literacy and math;
• Integrate science and engineering practice through hands-on applications and learning by doing;             

 

The State Board believes that the NGSS has benefits for children and society, and will prepare the District of Columbia's students to be critical thinkers and creative problem solvers as well as for emerging STEM education or other high wage careers.

 

"These game-changing new standards reinstate science as a core subject – not something to be squeezed out of the curriculum because teachers must focus on reading and math," said Mary Lord, the At-Large representative to the State Board and chair of its NGSS committee. "NGSS opens up the wonderful world of discovery and pathways to prosperity for every child, not just the gifted, talented, or science enthusiasts, but English language learners and special needs students who too often get shut out of science."

 

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) now begins the challenging task of assisting schools as they implement the NGSS by the 2016-2017 school year. The resolution to adopt the NGSS included requiring it to provide an annual progress report on implementation to the State Board.

 

"Now the real work begins," said Patrick Mara, the Ward 1 representative to the State Board and NGSS committee member. "The State Board will be keeping an eye on the implementation of these standards. We want to get it right."

 

The State Board began discussing the NGSS in 2010 and considered them more deeply since August 2013, following their release. The NGSS are aligned with the State Board's proposed revisions to the District of Columbia's graduation requirements and the statewide career and technical education strategic plan. OSSE and State Board members collaboratively scheduled and conducted presentations at school and community meetings to ensure that stakeholders citywide were aware of the changes and benefits NGSS might bring. They found almost universal support for the standards.

 

Eight of the nine members of the State Board voted to adopt the NGSS. President Laura Slover did not participate in any discussions or the vote as her employer, Achieve, Inc., was involved with assisting states in the NGSS writing process.

 

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