Much has been accomplished since NSTA began exploring the idea of Science Anchors nearly three years ago. NSTA has organized the work in phases. Phase I focused on conducting exploratory work and research, establishing partnerships with key organizations, and engaging stakeholders. Click here for an update on our recent efforts.
Science Anchors: Moving to Common National Standards
A call for common state standards for education has gained considerable support over recent months. We think the time has come for all states to work together to adopt a common core of concepts and abilities in science that every student needs to be scientifically literate. Efforts surrounding common standards strongly support the goal of the Science Anchors initiative to provide model standards that states can use to establish the same clear learning objectives for curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
Above all, NSTA feels it is imperative that multiple stakeholders are at the table and have a voice in framing a single document that will lead the way to a new generation of science standards that all states can support. NSTA is engaged with Achieve, NRC, and others to continue beyond Phase I and move forward together with a revision of the standards.
NSTA will continue to engage its members with updates, discussions, and forums to ensure that the common core effort reflects the broad experience of today’s science educators and district and state educational leaders.
Upcoming Events
WHAT: “Science Anchors: A Vision for Clear, Coherent, and Manageable Standards”
WHO: Page Keeley and Cary Sneider
WHEN: Friday, October 30, 2009: 12:30 to 1:30 PM
WHERE: Minneapolis Area Conference, Minneapolis Convention Center, Room 101 I&J
WHAT: “Science Anchors: A Vision for Clear, Coherent, and Manageable Standards”
WHO: Page Keeley and Cary Sneider
WHEN: Thursday, December 3: 12:30–1:30 PM
WHERE: Phoenix Area Conference, Phoenix Convention Center, Ballroom 120B
Science Anchors—A Vision for Clear, Coherent, and Manageable Science Standards
The science education community has long sought to establish a coherent science education system
to provide all students with the knowledge and skills necessary for life in the 21st century.
Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards (NSES) have brought
us closer to this goal, but many challenges still exist.
NSTA is leading an effort called Science Anchors to address these challenges and bring greater focus,
clarity, and coherence to science education. The vision
Science Anchors
to serve as a model for K–12 science education standards that draws from current national standards
documents, but would be more streamlined and focused. Science content will be organized around a small
number of big ideas rooted in the major fields of science that develop over the K–12 span,
and crosscutting concepts and skills that would unite the disciplines in a deep, meaningful way.
The purpose of Science Anchors is to assist teams of educators revising state standards, administrators
developing science programs for schools and districts, and teachers who want further insight into how
a given unit of study fits into the broader picture of a student's K–12 science learning.
NSTA has developed a preliminary model of what the Science Anchors framework might look
like; an example of one big idea—the universe; and an example of performance expectations to guide instruction and assessment. This preliminary model is meant to be the beginning of a collaborative process
that will involve many partnering organizations and groups of science educators to advance
this effort. We hope you will be a part of it. Please help us by accessing the link above
and taking a short survey to share your ideas about how this initiative should progress:
Thank you for contributing to the early development of Science Anchors!
If you have additional questions, please review the frequently asked questions
or e-mail scienceanchors@nsta.org.