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A recent poll released today shows voters are virtually unanimous—97%—in believing that improving the quality of science education is important to the United States' ability to compete globally. Moreover, making sure American students receive a world-class education in math and science ranked second only to fixing the nation's financial health as a strategy for improving America's economic competitiveness with other countries. 

The NRC Publication A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas was published online in July 2011, and is now available in print format.  The paperback version and free PDF can be found here. 

 Twenty-six states are leading the development of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a shared effort that will clearly define the science content, practices and crosscutting concepts all students will need to learn from kindergarten through high school graduation.

Now, 26 states will lead the development of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a shared effort that will clearly define the content and practices all students will need to learn from kindergarten through high school graduation.

It's not uncommon for a school kid to ask teachers the question, "how is this going to help me later in life?" This is the same question national leaders in the science field are asking of the current, national standards we're teaching our children and the answer those leaders have found is that it's time for the standards to change...and scientists right here in South Dakota are leading the way for those changes.

If you’re trying to figure out what to study in college, a new report suggests you would do well choosing a major in science, technology, engineering or math.

A group of 20 states has been selected to lead the development of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a state-led effort that will clearly define the content and practices all students will need to learn from kindergarten through high school graduation. The Lead State Partners are Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.

Maine was one of a handful of states selected recently to help change how science is taught in schools, with the goal of placing more emphasis on practical applications of sometimes complicated facts and concepts.

The National Academy of Sciences released a framework today that will serve as the foundation for the creation of Next Generation Science Standards. The Framework for K–12 Science Education describes key ideas and practices in the natural sciences and engineering that all students should be familiar with by the time they graduate from high school.