Today the final Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a new set of voluntary, rigorous, and internationally benchmarked standards for K-12 science education, were released. The NGSS provide a foundation for local decisions around curriculum, assessments, and instruction and will be helpful as educators set goals and expectations that prepare students for college, careers and citizenship.

California and Twenty five other states and their broad-based teams worked together for two years with a 41-member writing team and partners to develop the standards which identify science and engineering practices and content that all K-12 students should master in order to be fully prepared for college, careers and citizenship. It has been 15 years since science standards were revised. Since that time, many advances have occurred in the fields of science and science education, as well as in the innovation-driven economy.

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector is found in the “T” (technology) in Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) education, and ICT is reported to be the driving force of innovation behind the efficiency initiatives of all career clusters. Implementing improved K–12 science standards will better prepare high school graduates for the rigors of college and careers. In turn, employers will be able to hire workers with strong science-based skills—including specific content areas but also skills such as critical thinking and inquiry-based problem solving.

Here is a background video about the Next Generation Science Standards. http://vimeo.com/41706647