2007 UPDATE ON GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION IN GEORGIA

Georgia has revised its K-12 science curriculum over the past several years. In 2004, the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) was replaced by the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS), which are based on national science education standards. In Fall 2005, Earth Science instruction began a two year transition from 8th grade to 6th grade. Earth Science will be offered in 6th grade, and Physical Science will be offered in 8th grade, beginning in Fall 2007.

In July 2006, the Georgia Department of Education (DOE) approved two new high school science courses - Earth Systems and Environmental Science. These two courses will be offered as part of the high school core curriculum. The Earth Systems course will investigate connections among Earth's systems (atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere) through time. Topics to be covered include the early history of the Earth, plate tectonics, landform evolution, geologic record, weather and climate, and the history of life on Earth. Special attention will be paid to topics of current interest and to careers in the geosciences.

An August 2006 study by the Fordham Institute reported that Georgia's new K-12 curriculum is the fifth-best state curriculum in the nation. The report gave Georgia's curriculum an overall grade of B+, up from a C- in 2000, when standards were last reviewed. Science standards received a grade of "B," which is up from an "F" in 2000.

In higher education, University System of Georgia (USG) institutions will begin offering two new science courses in Fall 2007, as part of the curriculum for Early Childhood (K-5) Teacher Education majors. Courses in Life/Earth Science and Physical Science will be required, in addition to other college science requirements. These will be inquiry-based courses which address the GPS, and have common learning outcomes throughout the USG. Georgia Perimeter College continues to offer its Earth and Space Science for Middle School Teachers course, which was created in 2000 for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the USG P-16 Council. The course was revised in 2005 to address the GPS under a Math and Science Partnership grant from the DOE, in partnership with Whitfield County Schools. A course in Physical Science for Middle School Teachers will be offered in Summer 2007.