The release of the Conceptual Framework for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) on July 19, 2011, was the first of two steps to develop new science standards for the states. Through a state-led process, new K–12 science standards are being developed that will be rich in content and practice, arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally benchmarked science education.
Proposed NGSS for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (or K-12)
The proposed standards can be viewed by grade level Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI): Life Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, and Physical Sciences or by grade level Topic (example: Chemical Reactions, Structure and Function, or Space Systems).
NGSS Middle School
These documents provide middle school educators the rationale for the middle school configuration of proposed standards. The documents also describe the learning progressions for each grade level.
Electronic Mailing List
Join the NGSS electronic mailing list by sending a blank e-mail to join-ngss@mlist.cde.ca.gov. To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail to unsubscribe-ngss@mlist.cde.ca.gov.Public Meetings
California Education Code Section 60605.85 required the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) in consultation with the state board, to convene a group of science experts. The Superintendent and the Science Expert Panel (SEP) shall recommend science content standards for adoption to the State Board of Education (SBE) and shall utilize the NGSS as the basis for their deliberations and recommendations to the state board. The Superintendent is required to hold a minimum of two public meetings pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act in order for the public to provide input on the science content standards that would be recommended.
The SEP meetings will take place on April 22, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and April 23, 2013, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Upcoming SEP meetings will be May 13-14, 2013, and June 3-4, 2013. The April 22-23, and June 3-4 meetings will be held at WestEd
, 1000 G Street, Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95814-0892.
The May 13-14 meeting will be held at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West
, 2200 Harvard St, Sacramento, California, 95815-3306. All SEP meetings are open to the public.
The CDE and the California Comprehensive Center will be facilitating three regional public meetings for members of the public to submit feedback on the NGSS. The meeting on April 30, 2013 will also be broadcast by live webinar. The meeting dates, times, and locations are listed below and are also available to download in a flyer (DOC). The agenda for all three meetings is also available.
April 29, 2013, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.±
Sacramento County Office of Education
10474 Mather Boulevard
Mather, CA 95655
Contact:
Phil Romig
Curriculum Specialist, K-12 Curriculum and Intervention / Science
916-228-2275
Meeting Agenda
April 30, 2013, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.±
Santa Clara County Office of Education
1290 Ridder Park Drive
San Jose, CA 95131-2304
Webinar can be accessed at:
http://connect2.sccoe.org/cde-ngss/
Register at:
http://santaclara.k12oms.org/eventdetail.php?id=69650
Contact:
Sandi Yellenberg, Coordinator, Science
408-453-6692
Meeting Agenda
May 2, 2013, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m..±
Riverside County Office of Education
3939 Thirteenth Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Contact:
Yamileth Shimojyo, Coordinator, Instructional Services
951-600-5658
Meeting Agenda
California’s Next Generation Science Standards Science Expert Panel
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has convened a Science Expert Panel (SEP) to recommend new Science Content Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve based upon the nationally developed Next Generation Science Standards as required by Education Code (EC) Section 60605.85.
Convener
- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
Liaisons from the State Board of Education
- Ilene Straus
- Trish Williams
Members of the Science Expert Panel
- Bruce Alberts, University of California, San Francisco
- David Andrews, California State University, Fresno
- Arthur Beauchamp, University of California, Davis
- Kirk Brown, San Joaquin County Office of Education
- Ken Brown, Booz Allen Hamilton
- Nikki Chambers, Torrance Unified School District
- Eric Eichinger, Boeing
- John Galisky, Lompoc Unified School District
- Ryan Gallagher, High Tech High
- Dean C. Gilbert, Orange County Department of Education
- Laura Henriques, California State University, Long Beach
- President – Elect, California Science Teachers Association
- Tatiana Lim-Breitbart, California College Preparatory Academy
- Glen Lusebrink, Woodland Joint Unified School District
- Bama Medley, Santa Maria-Bonita School District
- J. Richard Pomeroy, University of California, Davis
- President, California Science Teachers Association
- Helen Quinn, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
- Glenn Reagan, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
- Jackie Rojas, California State University, Fullerton
- Donna Ross, San Diego State University
- David Seidel, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Robert Sherriff, San Juan Unified School District
- Maria C. Simani, California Science Project
- Art Sussman, WestEd
- Ethan Sullivan, Granada Hills Charter High School
- Nancy Taylor, San Diego Science Alliance
- Jerry Valadez, Central Valley Science Project
- Janet Yamaguchi, Discovery Science Center
WestEd Staff
- Karen Cerwin
- Kathy DiRanna
- Jannelle Kubinec
- Jo Topps
California Department of Education Staff
- Phil Lafontaine
- Karen Martin
- Karen Shores
- Stacey Shorey
- Scott Spector
Next Generation Science Standards
Next Generation Science Standards
This is the official Web site for national information on the Next Generation Science Standards. Forty-one members of a core writing team worked with 26 Lead State Partners in the development of the new science standards. The draft standards were available for public comment in May 2012 and January 2013.
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
The National Science Teachers Association offers numerous resources to assist educators in the understanding of the Conceptual Framework and Next Generation Science Standards.
State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces California Will Lead Effort in Writing New National Science Standards
This is the News Release on California's participation in the development of the Next Generation Science Standards.
Development Process
Alternative Accessible Version of the Timeline for the Development of NGSS Standards
The Next Generation Science Standards will go through several rounds of review with multiple stakeholder groups. The
general process and timeline for the development of the standards are available at this site.
NGSS Development Timeline (PDF)
Alternative Accessible Version of the NGSS Development Timeline
This is a timeline of the development and adoption process for new science standards in California.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about the NGSS.
Conceptual Framework for the Next Generation Science Standards
Conceptual Framework for the Next Generation K-12 Science Standards
Released July 19, 2011, the framework provides a research-grounded basis for improving science teaching and learning across the country. It is intended to guide standards developers, curriculum designers, assessment developers, state and district science administrators, professionals responsible for science teacher education, and science educators working in informal settings.
Opportunity Equation: Transforming Mathematics and Science Education for Citizenship and the Global Economy
The set of recommendations for standards drawn from this June 2009 report by the Carnegie Corporation of New York - Institute for Advanced Study Commission on Mathematics and Science Education served as the underpinning for the Conceptual Framework for the Next Generation K-12 Science Standards.
Webinars and Presentations
Next Generation Science Standards Presentation to the SBE
On May 9, 2012, Stephen Pruitt, Vice President, Content, Research, and Development, at Achieve, Inc., presented at the California SBE meeting to discuss the development and content of the NGSS. You may view the archived presentation of the State Board Meeting May 9, 2012 (WMV; 07:40:01); Item 2 begins at the 22:15 mark.
Framework for New K-12 Science Education Standards
Helen Quinn, National Academy of Sciences, Board on Science Education and Chair of the NGSS Committee, presented at the National Science Teachers Association conference in San Francisco on March 10, 2011, about the development of a conceptual framework for new science education standards.
Next Generation Science Standards (PPT)
Accessible Alternative Version of the NGSS Presentation
At the Wednesday, May 8, 2013 State Board of Education meeting, Stephen Pruitt, Senior Vice President from Achieve, Inc., shared an overview of the development of the NGSS. The NGSS update was Item 10 on the agenda, and can be viewed. Item 10 begins at the 2:24:40 mark.