NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (ESEA) FLEXIBILITY WAIVER
Wisconsin’s waiver was approved
• Increases math & science, technology, or engineering graduation requirement to 3 years
each (2 years of “traditional” science)
• Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA)replaces WKCE for math and ELA in the 2014-2015
school year – pilot testing in 2013-14
• Right now it looks like the WKCE for science will continue for the next few school years.
We don’t have exact answers right now.
• ACT suite of tests (Explore-Plan-Act) is being proposed to supplement achievement data
Waiver Summary
ACT testing suite
Introductory Video
Basis for NGSS
• Next Generation Science Standard are based on A
Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices,
Cross-Cutting Concepts, and Core Ideas
Principles of the Framework
• Children are born investigators
• Understanding builds over time
• Science and Engineering require both knowledge and
practice
• Connecting to students’ interests and experiences is
essential
• Focusing on core ideas and practices
• Promoting equity
Science and Engineering Practices
1. Asking questions and defining problems
2. Developing and using models
3. Planning and carrying out investigations
4. Analyzing and interpreting data
5. Using mathematics and computational thinking
6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
7. Engaging in argument from evidence
8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Framework p.41
Crosscutting Concepts
1. Patterns
2. Cause and effect
3. Scale, proportion, and quantity
4. Systems and system models
5. Energy and matter
6. Structure and function
7. Stability and change
Framework 4-1
Disciplinary Core Ideas
A core idea for K-12 science instruction is a scientific idea
that:
• Has broad importance across multiple science or
engineering disciplines or is a key organizing concept of a
single discipline
• Provides a key tool for understanding or investigating
more complex ideas and solving problems
• Relates to the interests and life experiences of students or
can be connected to societal or personal concerns that
require scientific or technical knowledge
• Is teachable and learnable over multiple grades at
increasing levels of depth and sophistication
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
Physical Sciences
• PS1 Matter and its interactions
• PS2 Motion and stability: Forces and interactions
• PS3 Energy
• PS4 Waves and their applications in technologies for
information transfer
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
Life Sciences
• LS1 From molecules to organisms: Structures
and processes
• LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, energy, and
dynamics
• LS3 Heredity: Inheritance and variation of
traits
• LS4 Biological evolution: Unity and diversity
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
Earth and Space Sciences
• ESS1
Earth’s place in the universe
• ESS2
Earth’s systems
• ESS3
Earth and human activity
Disciplinary Core Ideas: Engineering,
Technology and Applications of Science
•ETS1
Engineering design
•ETS2
Links among engineering, technology,
science and society
What are the NGSS?
NGSS Are:
• Performance Expectations
focused on the connection
between the three dimensions
of science learning
• Performance Expectations
that require students
demonstrate proficiency
• Designed to lead to a
coherent understanding of the
Practices, CCC, and DCIs
NGSS Are NOT:
• Separate sets of isolated
inquiry and content standards
• Curriculum or instructional
tasks, experiences or
materials.
• Meant to limit the use of
Practices or Crosscutting
Concepts in instruction
• Designed to be separate or
isolated experiences
Organization of the NGSS
K-5
• Grade By Grade
• Engineering are integrated into performance
expectations
6-8
• Grade Banded
• Model Pathways will be provided
9-12
• Grade Banded
• Model Pathways will be provided
Web Delivery of the NGSS
All Standards are sortable by
• Topic
• Discipline
• Disciplinary Core Idea
• Science and Engineering Practice
• Crosscutting Concept
• Grade Level/Band
Shifts in the NGSS
1. Standards as Performance Expectations reflecting the connections
between Science and Engineering Practice, Crosscutting Concepts,
and Disciplinary Core Ideas
2. Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts are
continuums
3. Particular practices and/or crosscutting concepts emphasized for
clarity and assessment purposes
4. Science concepts build coherently across K-12
5. Greater focus on deeper understanding and application of less
content as opposed to memorization of scientific facts and details
6. Integration of science and engineering
7. Coordination with Common Core State Standards
See handout “How to Read the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)” Show video
Achieve website on Next Generation Science Standards