California science common core standards
Correlation Guides
The California EEI Curriculum is a great resource for supporting the Common Core State Standards (Common Core) and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Below are links to free correlation guides designed to help teachers see how EEI Curriculum lessons can support Common Core and NGSS instruction.
Common Core Correlation Guides
All 85 EEI Curriculum have been correlated to the Common Core. These guides identify specific Common Core standards supported in each EEI Curriculum unit.
The “Next Generation Science Standards” logo is a registered trademark of Achieve. Except for the State of California, neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards, was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, these correlation guides.
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The archive below summarizes content from the state's application for Lead State Partner in 2011.
Interested in implementation? Learn more about NGSS design and find state and district implementation resources.
Click here to visit the current California Science Standards webpage
State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tom Torlakson
Primary Points of Contact:
- Thomas Adams — Director, Curriculum Frameworks, and Instructional Resources
- Phil Lafontaine — Director, Professional Learning Support
Partner Organizations: California STEM Service-Learning Initiative; Statewide STEM Task Force; Education and the Environment Initiative; California Partnership Academies; the California Mathematics and Science Partnership grant program; the California Science Project; the California Science Teachers Association; the Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee; State Superintendent of Public Instruction STEM Task Force; Association of California School Administrators; California Environmental Education Agency; California Mathematics and Science Partnership Learning Network; California Regional Environmental Education Community; Californ
What are the Next Gen Science Standards?
The NGSS describe the key scientific ideas and practices that all students should absorb by the time they graduate from high school. The NGSS detail performance expectations for kindergarten through grades 8 and sky-high school. The NGSS are not curriculum. How students reach those performance expectations are left to teacher's expertise.
How were the NGSS developed?
The development of the NGSS was a two-step process. The first step was the development of the Framework for K-12 Science Education (Framework) by the National Research Council (NRC), the staff arm of the National Academy of Sciences.
The Framework was a critical first step because it is grounded in the most current study on science and science study and identified the science all kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) students should know. To undertake this effort, the NRC convened a committee of 18 individuals who are nationally and internationally known in their respective fields. The committee was composed of practicing scientists, including two Nobel laureates, cognitive scientists, science teaching researchers, and science education standards and policy
NGSS for California Public Schools, K-12
NGSS Standards
On September 4, 2013, the SBE adopted the Next Generation Science Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (CA NGSS) as required by California Education Code 60605.85. The NGSS Appendices A-M were also adopted to assist teachers in the implementation of the new science standards and to aid in the development of the new science curriculum framework.
The SBE-adopted California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) can be viewed below by grade level Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI): Life Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, and Physical Sciences or by grade level Topic (e.g., Chemical Reactions, Structure and Function, or Space Systems).
For information on how to read the standards and implement the standards, please read How to Read CA NGSS (PDF) or consult the 2016 Science Framework or visit the Adopting and Implementing NGSS page. For questions about the CA NGSS and 2016 Science Framework, contact the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division (CFIRD) at cfird@cde.ca.gov or 916-319-0881.
Kindergarten through Grade Five Standards
Standards Arranged by Disciplinar
Science Content Standards
Myth
Fact
In the proposed adoption of CA NGSS only middle school is integrated.
The proposed adoption includes performance expectations (PEs) in life, earth, physical science and engineering each year K-8; high school PEs may be arranged as discipline specific or integrated courses.
CA should have a grade span arrangement of the PEs for middle school like they are suggesting for high school.
CA is a K-8 instructional materials adoption state, MANDATING that standards be assigned to each grade level, K-8.
Currently CA’s middle school science is discipline specific.
Each grade has an EMPHASIS on one discipline, with standards from the other two disciplines. For example, in 6th grade the emphasis is on earth science, but also includes standards that address thermal energy from physical science and ecology from life science.
The arrangement of the PEs in the proposed CA middle school do not align with NGSS.
NGSS is arranged by Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) and by topics (performance expectations that are bundled to address a science topic). The recommended CA middle schoo
Science Content Standards
Myth
Fact
In the proposed adoption of CA NGSS only middle school is integrated.
The proposed adoption includes performance expectations (PEs) in life, earth, physical science and engineering each year K-8; high school PEs may be arranged as discipline specific or integrated courses.
CA should have a grade span arrangement of the PEs for middle school like they are suggesting for high school.
CA is a K-8 instructional materials adoption state, MANDATING that standards be assigned to each grade level, K-8.
Currently CA’s middle school science is discipline specific.
Each grade has an EMPHASIS on one discipline, with standards from the other two disciplines. For example, in 6th grade the emphasis is on earth science, but also includes standards that address thermal energy from physical science and ecology from life science.
The arrangement of the PEs in the proposed CA middle school do not align with NGSS.
NGSS is arranged by Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) and by topics (performance expectations that are bundled to address a science topic). The recommended CA middle schoo