In Nebraska, the Department of Education has released a first draft of revisions to the state’s College and Career Ready Standards for Science. These standards are intended to provide guidance to teachers as they develop learning experiences for students in the science content area. The proposed draft was developed by educators from pre-kindergarten to postsecondary, including public and non-public schools.

The current science standards were approved in 2017 and serve as the framework for science education in the state. However, Nebraska state law requires that standards for reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies be updated every seven years. The proposed revisions reflect the knowledge and skills that students are expected to learn in the science content area.

It is important to note that these standards do not prescribe specific curriculum, lessons, teaching techniques or activities. Those decisions are made locally by individual school districts and classroom teachers. As such, it is crucial that members of the public review the proposed draft of the science standards and provide input through a public input survey and a science standards input email address before the deadline on May 30th 2024. This will ensure that these standards continue to meet the needs of Nebraska students and educators alike.