Societies Leap Into California Standards Fray

doi:10.1126/science.281.5382.1425b

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ScienceScope

The battle over science instruction in California is moving to a new front. This week, a group calling itself the "Scientists' Standards Project"--backed by the American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society, and the American Astronomical Society--charged that a draft set of science standards for state schools released in July stresses facts at the expense of concepts. They want the state Board of Education to give them a chance to revise the standards before the state finalizes them in October.

The debate erupted last fall, when the state got caught in a tug-of-war between two groups that wanted to draft the standards--one emphasizing facts and the other concepts (Science, 12 December 1997, p. 1885). Members from both groups produced a consensus draft of the standards in July. The draft represents a "very hard fought compromise," says Scott Hill, executive director of the California standards commission. He doubts substantial changes will be made before the October deadline.