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Science
SCIENCE EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA
SCIENCE EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA
Next Generation Science Standards
California formally adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in September 2013. A guiding tenet of the NGSS is "All Standards, All Students," meaning all students will have the opportunity to experience learning in all disciplines of science, including Life Science (Biology), Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics), Earth-Space Science, and Engineering. The state provided school districts with a variety of course models from which to choose. Click here to access helpful Parent Guides to the NGSS.
OVERVIEW OF SCIENCE EDUCATION IN SDUHSD
OVERVIEW OF SCIENCE EDUCATION IN SDUHSD
Middle School
San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) selected the California Preferred Integrated Model for middle school, meaning students in our 7th and 8th grade science classes will experience all disciplines of science. Our five elementary feeder districts have also agreed to implement the integrated course model for 6th grade science, and SDUHSD will continue its practice of hosting vertical articulation discussions between our districts to support our students' transition from elementary to middle school.
High School
For high school, SDUHSD selected the California Three-Course Model, where Earth-Space Science and Engineering content is embedded within Biology, Chemistry, and Physics courses. In our district transition timeline, all 9th grade students (starting with the graduating class of 2024) enroll in Biology: The Living Earth for and Chemistry: in the Earth System or Honors Chemistry: in the Earth System as 10th graders. We highly encourage all 11th graders to enroll in either Physics: of the Universe or AP Physics 1. As part of our transition plan, the science graduation requirement may change from two to three years, with the expectation that those three classes are: Biology: The Living Earth, Chemistry: In the Earth System (or Honors Chemistry: In the Earth System), and Physics: In the Universe. The timeline for implementation of this three year science graduation requirement is to be determined and will depend on School Board approval. The graduating classes of 2022-2026 will not be impacted by this potential or future change, and will still be required to complete two years of science (one life and one physical) to graduate.
Instructional Materials
SDUHSD science teachers have engaged in multi-year pilots of instructional materials to determine the best curricular resources to support our students in their science courses. After multiple years of piloting state-approved instructional materials, our middle school science classes have adopted Lab Aids SEPUP as their instructional materials for the 2020-2021 school year and beyond. Our Biology teachers have piloted multiple instructional materials for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 and school years, and have recommended Savvas’ (formally Pearson) Experience Biology the Living Earth program for adoption and implementation in the 2021-2022 school year. Chemistry teachers began piloting materials in the 2020-2021 school year, and will continue to pilot along with their Physics colleagues in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.
Course Pathways and Transition
SDUHSD is committed to supporting all students in accessing all disciplines of science. Approximately 80% of SDUHSD high school students already complete three or more years of science. The three course pathway shown below was implemented with the class of 2024 because they were the first class to experience NGSS integrated science beginning in 7th grade, and will continue with all subsequent graduating classes. 
Students in the graduating classes of 2022 and 2023 will follow the pre-NGSS pathway:
Parent Communication
SDUHSD schools have hosted middle school parent coffees and high school parent information nights (presentation in English and Spanish).
STILL HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT NGSS?
STILL HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT NGSS?
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This website is maintained by Jennifer McCluan, SDUHSD Instructional Specialist for Science and Health.