School board requests public input for proposed middle school science standards

School board requests public input for proposed middle school science standards

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SALT LAKE CITY — A set of proposed science standards for middle schoolers is again open for public comment after the standards were rewritten in light of feedback from teachers, parents and other stakeholders.

Members of the Utah State Board of Education voted Friday to give the public another 30 days to look at what the standards for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders could look like, including "big changes" from the previous iteration.

"It may feel like we have beaten these standards to death," said Syd Dickson, deputy superintendent at the Utah State Office of Education. "While this process could seem very arduous, at the end of the day we have great confidence that we have created the best standards we can for students."

Education leaders first proposed revising Utah's current standards in 2013 to bring them up to date with current scientific knowledge and practices. Last year, a writing team comprised of education leaders, scientists, parents and teachers began drafting a new set of standards.

In April, they were opened for a 90-day public review period, which provided "all kinds of wonderful, wonderful feedback," according to Ricky Scott, a K-12 science specialist with the Utah State Office of Education.

Based on the feedback from the State School Board and members of the public, some content was shifted to different grades and a "cross walk" was created comparing them with the standards currently in place.


It may feel like we have beaten these standards to death. While this process could seem very arduous, at the end of the day we have great confidence that we have created the best standards we can for students.

–Syd Dickson, Utah State Office of Education.


A fiscal analysis also revealed that the standards will cost about $600,000 in currently available funds to adopt statewide, and between $40,000 and $70,000 per district.

David Thomas, vice chairman of the State School Board, said he was largely unsupportive of the initial draft because of how it resembled the national consortium-developed Next Generation Science Standards, which "seemed to be long on politics and short on scientific method."

Some members of the public had similar criticisms, especially for portions dealing with evolution and climate change.

But Thomas said he was "really impressed" with how the standards were rewritten.

"I really appreciate the fact that you depoliticized the standards and stuck to the scientific method," Thomas said to staff members Friday.

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Several science professors from the University of Utah also voiced their support for the content and rigor of the standards, which board members plan to pilot during the 2017-18 school year.

Holly Godsey is a geophysics professor and director of teacher development in the Center for Science and Mathematics Education at the U. She was also part of the team that drafted the standards.

"I think it's important to understand that this perspective is about teaching students to be able to do science as opposed to learn about science," Godsey said. "The real power behind science is having the tools to investigate any question and getting reliable results no matter who's doing the study. … The proposed new standards move away from the memorization of facts and really help the students get these tools."

Scott said the new standards will add clarity and an emphasis on what is currently practiced in the scientific community.

"I'm excited for this to get into the hands of teachers and students," he said.

The standards are scheduled to go before the State School Board for a final vote in December.

Over the next 30 days, members of the public can view and provide feedback on the latest version of the standards online by going to www.schools.utah.gov/CURR/science/Revision.aspx.

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Morgan Jacobsen

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