Essential Standards
The Science Curriculum Group at DPI is embarking on the development of Essential Standards for grades PreK-8 and the 5 core high school courses: Physical Science, Biology, Earth/Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Physics. Writing committees have been assembled that consist of diverse groups of science experts from classrooms, central offices, institutions of higher education, and governmental agencies. Their charge is the development of the PreK-12 NC Standard Course of Study for science. In addition, DPI curriculum consultants and review committee members from across the state will be working to support the writing/development process. As the first wave of content areas develop Essential Standards, it is pertinent that NC DPI receive input internally and externally. To provide input and feedback, you are requested to complete the brief survey. The survey deadline has been extended to the end of February.

Curriculum Units
A second version of the NC Curriculum Units Project was released in October on CD! The units for grades K-8 and the five core high school courses are available on CD by contacting the NCDPI K-12 science section at edunlap@dpi.state.nc.us.

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).

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Finalists
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the Nation's highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science. The Awards recognize highly qualified K-12 teachers for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.The National Science Foundation has announced the 2008 North Carolina Finalists for these prestigious awards.

For K-6 Science Teaching, the finalists are

• Sarah Klingler, Dr. Jay M. Robinson Middle School, Charlotte,Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Scott Reynolds, TIF-LEAP Initiative (formerly Winterfield Elementary School), Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Carol Swink Wooten, Hunter Gifted & Talented Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, Wake County Public Schools

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is accepting nominations for teachers of grades 7-12 for the 2009 award cycle. This is the highest teaching award in the United States for mathematics and science teachers. Go to www.paemst.org to nominate a deserving teacher—even yourself!! Nominations are accepted through April 1, 2009, with an application deadline of May 1, 2009.