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District of Columbia Adopts the Next Generation Science Standards

Friday, December 20, 2013

Contact: Victoria Holmes (202) 372-5415; [email protected]

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is pleased to announce that after two years of public engagement and outreach, the District of Columbia State Board of Education (DCSBOE) voted to adopt new K-12 science standards at their December 18 Board meeting. The Board adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which were developed by the National Research Council, the National Science Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Achieve.

“With the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards, the District is poised to take science education to a new level as we prepare or students for the increasing number of STEM careers ,” said Acting State Superintendent of Education Jesús Aguirre. “I want to thank the Board for adopting these standards and helping us take this vital step as we continue to work to prepare our students to become leaders in our increasingly diverse and competitive global economy.”

The new standards are designed to transform science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education (STEM) for District students. Aligned to the Common Core State Standards, the NGSS focus on preparing K-12 students to be critical thinkers and creative problem solvers and will continue the District’s commitment to college and career readiness.

DC joins eight other states (Rhode Island, Kentucky, Delaware, California, Maryland, Vermont, Kansas, and Washington) in adopting NGSS.

“These game-changing new standards reinstate science as a core subject – not something to be squeezed out of the curriculum because teachers must focus on reading and math,” said Mary Lord, the At-Large representative to the State Board, and chair of its NGSS committee. “The overwhelming support for these new standards – particularly from the science teachers, whose excitement about NGSS is infectious – bodes well for their implementation. Now for the hard part!”

OSSE will continue to engage stakeholders and work with Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to build increased awareness and support teacher preparation and professional development, as well as the development of curriculum and instructional support. OSSE expects to have implementation of the standards by the 2016-17 school year.

For more information on NGSS, visit http://1.usa.gov/1aR5rUa.