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Next Generation Science Standards
First Public Draft of Next Generation Science Standards Released May 11—Comment Period Open Until June 1
In a process managed by Achieve, 26 states led the development of the Next Generation Science Standards. The NGSS is based on A Framework for K–12 Science Education, issued by the National Research Council last summer, which defines the major practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas that all students should be familiar with by the time they finish high school. A Framework for K–12 Science Education offers a new vision for K–12 education in science and engineering, and represents a significant shift in how these subjects are viewed and taught.
It is expected that the Next Generation Science Standards will have a profound influence on curriculum, assessment, and teacher professional development in the years ahead. Science educators, supervisors, administrators, and anyone interested in shaping the future of science education are strongly encouraged to read and thoroughly review the draft standards and provide comment back to Achieve on their dedicated website.
Let NSTA be your guide to the Next Generation Science Standards—
Sign up now for two FREE webinars scheduled the week of May 14 to discuss the NGSS draft—
- Introduction to the NGSS Public Draft: Tuesday, May 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Stephen Pruitt, Vice President for Content, Research and Development at Achieve, will provide an introduction to the NGSS draft and answer your questions.
- How to Lead a Study Group on NGSS Draft: Three top NSTA officials—Harold Pratt, Gerry Wheeler, and Ted Willard—will lead an in-depth webinar to help you develop and/or lead a group to review the draft NGSS, Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Check out our 14-page, FREE, and easy-to-read booklet on organizing study groups to have focused discussions about the NGSS draft. The booklet includes sample questions, a facilitator guide, and more.
Visit NSTA’s Next Generation Science Standards Forums in the NSTA Learning Center where you can share your thoughts with other teachers and ask questions about the standards. Forums are organized by grade level and topic to facilitate focused discussion about the standards.
Access the vast variety of NSTA resources and materials on NGSS (including background information)—and don’t miss the FREE NSTA Reader’s Guide to A Framework for K–12 Science Education, Expanded Edition, an important companion to the Framework that will help science educators prepare for the standards.
Sign up today for the comprehensive NSELA/NSTA Summer Leadership Institute, June 24–28, 2012, in Austin, Texas, where teachers and leaders will hear from key speakers and together explore the K–12 Framework and draft Next Generation Science Standards in depth, identify next steps for their schools and districts, determine what research is needed to support standards reform, and much more.
QUESTIONS? E-mail your questions or concerns about the NGSS to ngss@nsta.org.
What’s New
NSTA Press has published a Reader's Guide to the Framework in PDF format. You can download it free of charge from the NSTA Science Store.
NSTA Resources—Get it Here!
NSTA is publishing articles, hosting web seminars, planning conference events, and more, to help science teachers prepare for the Next Generation Science Standards. Click here to learn more.
Calendar
June 2012: The NSELA/NSTA Summer Leadership Institute offers an immersive experience that will bring together scores of science educators, teachers, and administrators to explore the K–12 Framework and the draft Next Generation Science Standards.
Fall 2012: NSTA Web Seminar Series on Scientific and Engineering Practices (more information to come)
October 18–20: Stephen Pruitt from Achieve is slated to be the general session speaker at NSTA's Louisville regional conference.
November 1–3: NSTA regional conference in Atlanta, Georgia (session highlights to come)
December 6–8: NSTA regional conference in Phoenix, Arizona (session highlights to come)
Didn't make it to the NSTA Indianapolis National Conference in March? Here are slides and video from a few NGSS-related sessions you won't want to miss.
Update and Overview of Next Generation Science Standards
This standing-room-only session featured Stephen Pruitt, Vice President for Content, Research, and Development at Achieve who gave an update on and overview of the soon-to-be-released NGSS.
Watch this video of his session:
How to Engage Science Educators in the Public Review of the Next Generation Science Standards
NSTA has developed a guide to help science educators lead study groups to review the draft standards. Take a look at the slides from this session and download our guide.
Scientific and Engineering Practices in the Framework and Next Generation Science Standards
This Council of State Science Supervisors presentation featured Jacob Foster, Massachusetts Department of Education, and Brett Moulding, Partnership for Effective Science Teaching and Learning, who delve into scientific and engineering practices.