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Final Draft of Next Generation Science Standards Released for Public Comment

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Cardoza, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 651-7358,mcardoza@gadoe.org

Dorie Turner Nolt, GaDOE Communications Office, (404) 656-5594, dnolt@gadoe.org  

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NOTE: Georgia has not adopted the Next Generation Science Standards and will form working groups to study their adoption after the final version of the standards is released by the end of March 2013.

 

Jan. 8, 2013 – The final public review period for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) began today, Jan. 8, 2013, at 3 p.m.  The review period will end at the close of business on Jan. 29, 2013.  The NGSS can be viewed at www.nextgenscience.org.

 

Twenty-six states, including Georgia, and the District of Columbia are leading the development of the NGSS, an effort that will clearly define the content and practices all students will need to learn from kindergarten through high school graduation. The NGSS process is being managed by Achieve, a non-partisan education non-profit.

 

The development of the Next Generation Science Standards is a two-step process. The first step was the building of a framework that identified the core ideas and practices in natural sciences and engineering that all students should be familiar with by the time they graduate. In July, the National Research Council released A Framework for K-12 Science Education, developed by a committee representing expertise in science, teaching and learning, curriculum, assessment and education policy.

 

The second step is the development of science standards based on the Framework. The 26 Lead State Partners guided the standard writing process, gathered and delivered feedback from state-level committees and came together to address common issues and challenges.

 

Why are New Science Standards Needed?

American students continue to lag internationally in science education, making them less competitive for the jobs of the present and the future. A recent U.S. Department of Commerce study shows that over the past 10 years, growth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) jobs was three times greater than that of non-STEM jobs. The report also shows that STEM jobs are expected to continue to grow at a faster rate than other jobs in the coming decade.

 

The public’s feedback is welcomed. To provide comments, go to www.nextgenscience.org and click on any of the links that say "Go to the NGSS Survey."  Feedback collected during the comment period will be organized and shared with the leading states and writing team members.

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