Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute's Center for Geoscience and Society is pleased to release two reports concerning geosciences education in the United States. The reports were developed in response to the need for comprehensive monitoring of the U.S. educational system in terms of the instruction of geoscience content and participation in geoscience-related learning experiences. The reports are based on data pertaining to science education collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The "Report on the Status of K-5 Geosciences Education in the United States" highlights geosciences education indicators at the kindergarten through grade 5 (K-5) levels pertaining to teacher preparation, curriculum, instruction, learning contexts, extra-curricular programs, monitoring systems, and accountability. This is the first full release of this report.
"Earth and Space Sciences Education in U.S. Secondary Schools: Key Indicators and Trends" presents Earth and Space sciences education indicators relating to college admission requirements, graduation requirements, science education standards, high stakes assessments, and Advanced Placement programs. This report is an update of a report originally released in 2013.
Decision makers, researchers, educators and the public are invited to download the reports or order printed copies from AGI's Indicators of K-12 Geoscience Education website at: http://www.americangeosciences.org/education/state-indicators-k-12-geoscience-education
"With the publication of these reports, we now have data that will allow the role of the geosciences in our nation's education system to be monitored over time," says Edward Robeck, Director of the Center for Geoscience and Society. "These reports provide a snapshot of geosciences education in our nation's schools," Robeck continued, "and help us know the extent to which the geosciences are being included in the education of our nation's students."
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The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.