Education officials seek input on science standards

Iowa Department of Education officials are seeking the public’s input on how to update the state’s science standards.

Iowa DOE Director Brad Buck announced Wednesday a series of February public forums and an online survey to get feedback on the Next Generation Science Standards.

Four public forums will be held in February, and the survey will be open through Feb. 27, according to an Iowa DOE news release Wednesday.

Twenty-six states, including Iowa, developed the Next Generation Science Standards and can choose to adopt and adapt them.

Academic standards set expectations for what students from kindergarten through high school should know and be able to do. As part of Executive Order 83, Iowa’s academic standards are being reviewed, starting with science.

The review process began last fall when Buck gathered a group of business and education leaders to review the science standards in Iowa and other states and “to make a preliminary recommendation for improvement to take to the public for feedback,” the DOE news release stated. That preliminary recommendation came in December after three public meetings.

The input received from February’s public forums and from the survey will be used by the science standards review team. The team is expected to submit to the State Board of Education a final recommendation on science standards later in 2015, according to the news release.

Public forums information:

Feb. 11:

Board room at the Waukee Community Schools District office

560 S.E. University Ave., Waukee

4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 24:

Auditorium at the Great Prairie Area Education Agency’s Ottumwa office

2814 North Court St., Ottumwa

4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 25:

Room 1 ABC at the Keystone Area Education Agency’s Dubuque office

2310 Chaney Road, Dubuque

4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 26

Room A/Auditorium at the Northwest Area Education Agency’s administrative office

1520 Morningside Ave., Sioux City

4:30 to 6:30 p.m.