New Expectations for Science Learning

As reported by Baynet.com, Calvert County’s Board of Education recently heard a presentation on Next Generation Science Standards.

“We’re here to learn if this is a change to our curriculum,” said BOE Member Dawn Balinski.

[Supervisor of High School Science Yovonda] Kolo affirmed NGSS did not have a curriculum but would involve an “integration” of science rather than an “isolation” of content. “It should have real world connections,” said Kolo.

“Little memorized facts are not what we are going for,” said [Supervisor of Science Pre-K –Eighth Grade Janel] McPhillips. “It’s getting kids really engaged in science. The choices people make every day are science-related.”

Maryland was the fifth state to adopt the standards over the summer, the Washington Post reported.  Baynet writes that Maryland plans to complete implementation of the new standards in grades pre-K-12 by the 2017-2018 school year.

Maryland has been a lead state partner in developing the Next Generation Standards since 2011, as described on the Next Generation website,

Maryland shows a strong commitment to standards based learning through its adoption of the Common Core State Standards and its position as a governing state in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). Maryland is eager to update and revise its current standards and is ready and able to move with the pace of the NGSS on development, adoption, and implementation.

The standards are aimed at addressing:

  • Reduction of the United States’ competitive economic edge
  • Lagging achievement of U.S. students
  • Essential preparation for all careers in the modern workforce
  • Scientific and technological literacy for an educated society

Yon can now Read the final Next Generation Science Standards from the National Research Council Framework. The  promotional video below includes additional information.

For more information, see the full story from Baynet.