The US is still learning how to teach kids about science

Everyone needs to learn about science, but how is a matter of great debate. (credit: Getty Images)

In the US, each state sets its own expectations of what the public schools in that state should accomplish. These expectations take the form of education standards, which describe both the subjects that should be introduced at each grade level and what specific material the students should learn within them. Standardized tests in these states are typically based on these education standards as well.

Given their central role in education, getting these standards right is essential. Unfortunately, it's also incredibly challenging, and states haven't always been up to the task. In particular with the sciences, this challenge is compounded. A steady flow of legislators have attempted to insert their personal opinions into the educational process—opinions about things like the age of the Universe and the role of evolution in shaping life on Earth.

One response to these problems has been attempts to set national education standards, such as the Common Core initiative in language and math. Science is no exception. Two of the most significant US scientific organizations joined forces with a science teachers' organization to create the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the NGSS were made freely available to be adopted by states. A number have done so.

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