Proposed new standards for K-12 science

State Board of Education members spent time reviewing the proposed new curriculum standards for K-12 science courses during their meeting this week. The new standards are the latest deliverable in North Carolina’s Accountability and Curriculum Reform Effort (ACRE) approved by the State Board as part of its "Framework for Change." January marks the second month in which the science standards have come before Board members for discussion. Draft 4.0 of the N.C. Standard Course of Study Science Essential Standards will be posted online Jan. 18 at www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/standards/. Public feedback will continue to be reviewed and incorporated as the standards are finalized. The Board will vote for approval of the new science curriculum in the next few months so it can be implemented no later than the 2012-13 school year.

The State Board of Education has already approved the essential standards for K-12 Mathematics, English 10, the Occupational Course of Study and K-12 Information and Technology at its meeting in September and they will go into effect for the 2011-12 school year. Each new set of standards is the result of efforts of statewide writing teams comprised of classroom teachers, school administrators, content and curriculum experts from the NCDPI, university and community college faculty and national experts on curriculum design and testing. Writing teams study standards from other states and countries and meet with and receive feedback from members of the business community and the public before the revisions go before the State Board for approval.

Writing teams are currently working on essential standards for K-9 and 11-12 English Language Arts, K-12 social studies, foreign languages, healthful living and fine arts which are projected to go into effect in the 2012-13 school year. In addition, NCDPI staff members continue to develop teacher "toolkits" for each content area and are working on plans for professional development to help roll out new standards to educators across the state.