Question: I know we have Common Core Standards for English language arts/literacy and math. Are we going to have them for science, too? Will all schools then be teaching the same things? -- Would Like to Know
Answer: You are seeing into the future of education! Currently, language arts and math standards are taking center stage in Common Core. However, waiting just off stage ready to walk in are the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). They should result in a significant shift in how K-12 science is taught.
The science standards are not likely to be deployed in classrooms until this year or 2016. These standards do not spell out what should be taught in as much detail as Common Core did for language arts/literacy and math. In fact, many states may be ending up with their own version of NGSS. The states and local districts will be filling in the details so students can learn the key ideas in the standards.