Essential Standards
The DPI Science Consultants in conjunction with curriculum leaders throughout our state have been busily working on developing Essential Standards for PreK-Grade 12 Science. As of May 4, drafts of all of our courses will be posted on DPI’s website for public review. This includes grade-level courses through 8th grade and the 5 core high school courses (Physical Science, Earth/Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics).

The Essential Standards may be found at http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/acre/standards/

All LEAs are being asked to convene teams of reviewers and submit feedback on a specially-designed form. Individuals may submit feedback through an online survey.

There are documents on the page that give background and some guidance in looking at the drafts. We encourage you to look through these to make your review experience richer.

All feedback must be received by JUNE 15 as we are working on an accelerated time schedule. Please take time to review the drafts. We look forward to receiving your feedback.

Curriculum Revision Schedule

• Essential standards will be developed by next June, 2009
• The 2004 standards will be used in 2009-10
• 2010-11 will be the transition year
• The textbook selection process will occur in 2010-11 and the first year of implementation will be in 2011-12.

That puts us exactly a year behind the previous 5 year cycle we were following since the 2004 revision. Also, the EOG Science Test results will be a part of the ABCs performance composite beginning with this year's scores (2008-09).