Public input sought for science standards

The Wyoming Department of Education seeks input on the 2016 proposed Wyoming science content and performance standards.

Hot Springs County High School science teacher and director of technology London Jenks said the science standards have been developed by a committee of various stakeholders from across the state - teachers, parents, professionals, etc. - and it is part of Wyoming's process to open them up for public comment.

"These comments will provide input for the State Board of Education and for the Science Standards Review Committee," he said.

"It is an important opportunity to identify support and concerns about the science standards before they are voted on."

Jenks said all input will be beneficial to the State Board of Education and the Science Standards Review Committee.

"The input can be focused on content covered, the formatting of the standards, accessibility of the standards or the general focus and emphasis of the standards," he said.

The science standards that are presented for review are a marked improvement over the current legislated standards, Jenks said.

"They provide a much more clear guide for districts, teachers, parents and students on not only what topics are important but how science should be taught," he said. "These science standards include benchmarks for students K-12. It is in those grades, nationwide, that science is most often neglected. This is, most often, a result of an emphasis on mathematics and reading that limits the time available for science - and other subject areas, like social studies."

Jenks said the proposed science standards were developed to provide significant inroads that allow for them to be taught in conjunction with reading, mathematics and even subjects like social studies.

"This, and their clarity, will hopefully make it easier for them to be taught at the elementary grades," he said. The proposed science standards were also developed to specifically highlight areas where the unique backdrop of Wyoming can be utilized, Jenks said.

"Readers of the proposed standards will recognize the Steamboat logo - Bucking Horse and Rider - attached to various standards where the Science Standards Review Committee felt there was a special connection between the standards and the State of Wyoming," he said. "These standards were developed to be our own standards and this is one example of how they are uniquely Wyoming."

Jenks said all of the individuals involved on the Science Standards Review Committee worked tirelessly to provide the best possible science standards for Wyoming.

"It was a pleasure to work on the committee and I personally hope that many will review the standards and provide feedback," he said. "This feedback will only help to further improve the standards and the process of education for students in the great state of Wyoming."

To view the proposed 2016 Science Standards, visit http://bit.ly/1P6hgcH. To submit public comment, visit http://goo.gl/forms/yMjivvDrAx.