Alternative Plan for Middle School Science Approved by California Board of Education

As reported by EdSource, in a move that surprised many, the California Department of Education introduced a proposal allowing districts to determine whether they would offer an integrated or separate method to teach middle school students the new Next Generation Science Standards.  Although the State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, a former teacher, preferred the integrated method providing for some of each scientific discipline to be taught each year, based upon feedback from teachers, the State Board of Education approved the alternative plan  at its November 6-7, 2013 meetings.  The alternative plan was also supported by the Science Expert Panel convened by the CDE.  State board backs off integrated science standards in middle school