Nebraska’s Department of Education recently released an initial draft of proposed revisions to the state’s College and Career Ready Standards for Science. The department is currently seeking feedback from the public in order to gather diverse perspectives and aid in the review and revision process of the standards. According to Nebraska state law, these standards for reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies must be updated every seven years.
The State Board of Education established the framework for science education in Nebraska once the standards were approved. Educators from various educational levels, including pre-kindergarten to postsecondary, as well as both public and non-public schools, were involved in developing the initial draft of the proposed science standards. The approval process for these standards is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.
Content area standards in Nebraska outline specific knowledge and skills that students should acquire in a subject area. These learning benchmarks provide guidance to teachers as they design educational experiences that align with student learning needs. It’s important to note that standards do not dictate specific curriculum, teaching methods or activities; those decisions are made locally by school districts and individual teachers.
Members of the public are encouraged to review the proposed draft of the science standards and provide input through a public input survey (available until May 30, 2024) or via email (nde.sciencestandardsinput@nebraska.gov). Your feedback is valuable in shaping the future of science education in Nebraska so make sure to share your thoughts and insights on this important matter.
