About NGSS in California
California adopted the Next Generation Science Standards in 2013 and created a plan for a multi-year rollout to transition to the new standards. In 2016 the State Board of Education approved the new Curriculum Framework for NGSS and defined details of the new assessments, two very important milestones on the pathway toward full implementation (2018-2019). While the state supports implementation in a variety of ways, local districts - as part of their LCAP work - make their own action plans for standards implementation in their school(s). Parents, teachers, and other stakeholders are an important part of this process. In the LCAP process, districts reflect on their progress of standards implementation by analyzing three areas: professional learning, instructional materials, and policies and programs that support quality instruction.
The new science standards, known as "Performance Expectations," are very different than the prior standards. Performance Expectations describe not only what a student should know related to core ideas in science, but also describe being able to think like scientists and engage in the practices of science and engineering to develop and apply knowledge and design solutions to problems. Access the Standards
The new science standards, known as "Performance Expectations," are very different than the prior standards. Performance Expectations describe not only what a student should know related to core ideas in science, but also describe being able to think like scientists and engage in the practices of science and engineering to develop and apply knowledge and design solutions to problems. Access the Standards
I couldn't be more excited . . . it's hands-on, interactive, and collaborative. Students and teachers ask lots of questions and work like scientists. These are the kinds of skills needed for success in high school, college and the modern workplace.
- State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, during a classroom visit at an NGSS Early Implementation school in Oakland (2017)
Resources to Support Classroom Teaching |
Resources to Support Learning More About NGSS |
Find resources that support your grade, or grade-band. Adoption of new instructional materials is on the horizon. Yet there are many high-quality resources already available to support taking the first steps toward teaching NGSS in the classroom. Jumping in and trying some new things is the best way to gain insight into the new "three-dimensional" vision of science teaching.
NGSS ToolsMany teachers and organizations have been doing the hard work of figuring out what NGSS teaching looks like, and developing productive ways to approach the planning of lessons and units. Not only are the standards different, there is also greater emphasis on equity and making the classroom a community of student-scientists. These tools will help you and your colleagues in your own work.
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In education it can seem like there's a lot of jargon - acronyms like PEs, SEPs, etc. However, to implement instructional shifts for NGSS, some new language is essential to understanding what the standards are all about, how we can measure student learning in science, and the critical elements of instruction that should be present in lessons and curriculum.
Curriculum Adoption |
All About Assessment
Gone are the days of "CST" tests, which measured science proficiency for grades 5 and 8, and end-of-course for high school. The new science assessment, called "CAST" (CA Science Test) is the newest piece of the CAASPP system and measures end of grade-band proficiency rather than a single grade or course. After the assessment is "operational" in a couple of years, science will be added to the collection of school performance indicators. Click the button below to learn more and access resources to support transitioning to "3D" NGSS assessments in the classroom.
Tools and Information for Parents and Stakeholders
With new standards and strong support for making science a greater priority, this is a very exciting time for our students in California. Kids love science, especially when given learning opportunities that are well-aligned with the new vision for science education.
Use the links below to explore what this type of learning might look like in your child's grade level.
Use the links below to explore what this type of learning might look like in your child's grade level.
This website is designed and authored by Cynthia Sargent.
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