Science News in Brief

Arizona’s Final Science Standards Restore Evolution, Climate Change

By Stephen Sawchuk — October 30, 2018 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Arizona’s school board last week approved new science and history standards, capping a tumultuous few months of policymaking.

The final draft restores language related to the teaching of evolution and climate change, some of which had been removed or weakened in earlier versions of the science standards. Now, among other references, it requires students to “gather and communicate evidence on how the process of natural selection provides an explanation of how new species can evolve,” language that the Arizona Science Teachers Association had urged the board to restore.

Controversy erupted earlier this year when several teachers and administrators said that, during an “internal review,” the state education department significantly watered down portions related to evolution. Fears that the standards would contain unscientific ideas redoubled later when a creationist was among the group of people tapped to put finishing touches on the draft. Many attributed the changes to outgoing schools chief Diane Douglas, who has said she believes the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution should be taught in schools. But she denied being the force behind the revisions.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the October 31, 2018 edition of Education Week as Arizona’s Final Science Standards Restore Evolution, Climate Change

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Equity & Diversity Webinar
Classroom Strategies for Building Equity and Student Confidence
Shape equity, confidence, and success for your middle school students. Join the discussion and Q&A for proven strategies.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Disrupting PD Day in Schools with Continuous Professional Learning Experiences
Hear how this NC School District achieved district-wide change by shifting from traditional PD days to year-long professional learning cycles
Content provided by BetterLesson
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Science If Climate Change Education Matters, Why Don’t All Teachers Teach It?
Climate change education in schools is sporadic and limited, despite student interest and the urgency of the issue as temperatures rise and weather patterns become more severe.
6 min read
Photo of a child working on a save the planet poster.
E+ / Getty
E+ / Getty
Science Will Restrictions on Teaching 'Controversial' Issues Target Science Classes?
Proposals that target the teaching of evolution aren't new, experts say. But they're changing shape in the current political moment.
5 min read
Antique copy of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, first published in 1859 it is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology
Duncan Walker/E+
Science 5 Ways to Make Computer Science More Accessible to All Students
There is a persistent income gap among students taking computer science classes in high school and those who aren't.
5 min read
Students in a computer class with worksheets and laptops.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Science How to Teach Climate Change: Your Questions, Answered
Two EdWeek reporters answered educators' questions about climate change education and combating feelings of hopelessness among students.
10 min read
Close up of child holding seedling during school science project.
Drazen Zigic/iStock