Adoption and Implementation of the CA NGSS

The State Board of Education (SBE) adoption of new California science standards began in 2013. Adoption of the CA NGSS involved a two-year process.

Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Tom Torlakson convened a Science Expert Panel (SEP) to recommend new science content standards for California public schools based upon the nationally developed Next Generation Science Standards as required by Education Code (EC) Section 60605.85.

On September 4, 2013, the SBE adopted the CA NGSS as required by EC 60605.85.

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about the adoption of the NGSS for California.

On November 6, 2013, the SBE approved the SEP recommended Integrated Learning Progression model as the preferred model for middle grades six through eight. At the same November meeting, the SBE approved a recommendation by the SSPI to reconvene the SEP in order “to develop … as an alternative model … a discipline specific model” for the grade span of six through eight based on Achieve’s domains model in Appendix K.

In December 2013, the SEP reconvened to develop an alternative domain specific course model.

EC Section 60605.85 (b), required the SSPI to submit a schedule and implementation plan to the SBE for integrating the adopted science content standards to the state educational system. A statewide plan to implement the Next Generation Science Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (CA NGSS), the CA NGSS Systems Implementation Plan was approved by the SBE on November 13, 2014.

Senate Bill 300 (Chapter 480, Statutes of 2013) called for the revision of the Science Framework to align with the CA NGSS. A new Science Curriculum Framework was adopted by the State Board of Education on November 3, 2016.

Information and resources for instructional materials are available on the California Department of Education 2018 Science Instructional Materials Adoption (K–8) web page.

CA NGSS Statewide Implementation

A number of state-level California agencies and organizations participate in supporting science education in California. In brief:

• The California Department of Education (CDE) provides technical assistance and support to local educational agencies (LEAs) regarding implementation of SBE-adopted science standards, curriculum frameworks, and assessments. The CDE also facilitates the dissemination of state and federal funding to support implementation of science.
• The California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) and the Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee (CISC) Science Subcommittee provide collaborative leadership among county offices of education (COEs) to improve achievement in science education for all students and to close the achievement gap.
• The California Science Project (CSP) supports ongoing quality professional learning for educators with activities and programs designed by university faculty, teacher leaders, and teacher practitioners to improve instructional practices that lead to increased achievement for all students.
• The California Science Teachers Association (CSTA) represents science educators statewide, providing leadership opportunities for its members, advocating for policy to support science education, and supporting science professional development through an annual state conference for science educators.
• The K–12 Alliance at WestEd provides science professional development for educators that enhances content knowledge and pedagogical techniques to support science achievement for all students.

The NGSS Collaborative

The NGSS Collaborative was developed in 2014 by the CDE, CCSESA, CSTA, California COEs, CSP, and the K–12 Alliance at WestEd to ensure that every student has access to teachers who are prepared to teach and facilitate student learning to the levels of rigor and depth required by the CA NGSS. The NGSS Collaborative offered professional learning workshops known as CA NGSS Rollout Symposia (rollouts) annually. These rollouts were two-day workshops which covered a variety of topics for teachers, principals, and other school leaders.

Electronic Mailing List

Join the STEM-Education and Environmental-Science electronic mailing lists by sending a blank email to join-stem-education@mlist.cde.ca.gov and to join-environmental-science-ed@mlist.cde.ca.gov. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to unsubscribe-stem-education@mlist.cde.ca.gov and unsubscribe-environmental-science@mlist.cde.ca.gov.

Contacts

Assessment: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Office; caaspp@cde.ca.gov; 916-445-8765
Professional Learning: Professional Learning Support & Monitoring Office; plsmo@cde.ca.gov; 916-323-5847
Framework and Instructional Materials: Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division; cfird@cde.ca.gov; 916-319-0881