NGSS-ALIGNED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW YORK STATE TEACHERS USING THE EARTH2CLASS MODEL

We will spotlight projects provided through the Earth2Class programs at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (https://earth2class.org/site/) to support professional development for New York State teachers facing transitions stemming from the December 2016 adoption by the Board of Regents of the NYS P-12 Science Learning Standards (https://earth2class.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/p-12-science-learning-standards.pdf). New York State continues to have the greatest number of P-12 students and teachers studying Earth Science. In 2015-16, more than 155,000 students took the high school-level Physical Setting/Earth Science (Regents ES) exam; more than 115,00 took the grade 8 Intermediate Level Exam; and more than 173,00 took the grade 4 Science exam. The NYS Board of Regents approved the Standards after an extensive development process. The Standards are based on A Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards; feedback from teachers, school and district administrators; and survey data focused on adapting specific portions of the NGSS to reflect the long-established NYS mission and vision for P-12 Education. Implementation begins in the current 2017-18 school year. The NYS Department of Education plans to work with key stakeholder groups to develop a Comprehensive Science Standards System Implementation Plan to facilitate and effective transition and incorporate revisions made to mathematics and ELA Standards. Plans include identifying STEM assets and initiatives to build a Statewide Science Ecosystem Network. Efforts will also be made to target federal and State funding sources to support implementation at the local, regional, and State levels. There are, of course, numerous PD programs underway to train teachers. The Earth2Class programs differ in their incorporation of scientific research by Columbia investigators and others as strategies to enhance NGSS-aligned lesson planning.