From the ECS State Policy Database Curriculum--Science

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary CA Signed into law 09/2012 P-12 Organ and Tissue Donation in Health and Science Curriculum Frameworks A.B. 1967 From bill summary: Requires the Instructional Quality Commission and the state board to ensure that the health and science curriculum framew... More... LA Signed into law 06/2012 Postsec. Science and Education Advisory Council S.B. 290 Creates the Science and Education Advisory Council to provide advice and information as requested by the executive board of the Louisiana Un... More... TN Became law without governor's signature 04/2012 P-12 Teacher Protections -- Evolution H.B. 368 Provides that the state board, district, school board, or school administrators shall not prohibit any teacher for how he/she reviews contro... More... MD Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Core Academic Standard Implementation S.B. 293 Requires that the county board include in its goals to improve student academic achievement a description of how it plans to ensure and meas... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 Science Standards S.B. 300 From bill summary: Requires the state board to adopt science content standards pursuant to specified requirements. Requires the superintende... More... SC Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Clarifies Science Course Requirement for Receiving a High School Diploma S.J.R. 686 Clarifies the science course requirement for receiving a high school diploma. Current law requires students to pass a science course in a su... More... PA Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 11/2010 P-12 Science Technology Partnerships H.B. 101 - Article XV-F Codifies existing "Science in Motion" program. Authorizes the department to administer a grant program to higher education institutions that... More... CA Vetoed 09/2010 P-12 Academic Content Standards Commission for Science and History-Social Science A.B. 97 Establishes the Academic Content Standards Commission for Science and History-Social Science. Upon the state superintendent's recommendation... More... NY Signed into law 08/2010 P-12 Student Rights re: Animal Dissection A.B. 3467 Requires local boards to develop a policy to give all students enrolled in a course that includes animal dissection reasonable notice of the... More... FL Signed into law 06/2010 Postsec. Community College Tuition and Fee Waivers for Classroom Teachers HB 723 Permits a state university or community college to waive tuition and fees for a classroom teacher, who is employed full-time by a school dis... More... WI Signed into law 02/2010 P-12 Science Credit for Agriculture Courses A.B. 236 Act 114 requires school boards to award a science credit to a pupil for each agriculture course the pupil successfully completes in the high... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Postsec. California Stem Cell and Biotechnology Education and Workforce Development Act of 2009 S.B. 471 Creates the Stem Cell and Biotechnology Education and Workforce Development Act of 2009. Establishes stem cell and biotechnology education a... More... TX Adopted 07/2009 P-12 Middle School Science Standards 19 TAC 2.112.B.112.17 -.21 Establish revised middle school science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for implementation beginning with the 2010-2011 school y... More... TX Adopted 07/2009 P-12 State Science Standards 19 TAC 2.112.A.112.1, .10 -.16 Establish revised science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for implementation beginning with the 2010-2011 school year. Starting ... More... TX Adopted 07/2009 P-12 High School Science Standards 19 TAC 2.112.C.112.31 -.39, .41 Establish revised high school science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for implementation beginning with the 2010-2011 school yea... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Electronic Textbooks and Instructional Materials H.B. 4294 Relates to instructional materials and technological equipment in public schools. Adds Section 31.0231, "Electronic Textbook and Instruction... More... TX Vetoed 06/2009 P-12 Loan Repayment for Math and Science Teachers H.B. 518, Section 3 Beginning in the 2012-13 school year, directs the higher education coordinating board to assist in repaying the eligible student loans of ce... More... TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Postsec. STEM Teacher Preparation and Professional Development S.B. 2262 Transfers 21.462, "Mathematics, Science and Technology Teacher Preparation Academies," to 61.0766. Allows a teacher with at least two years ... More... NC Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Science Safety Measures in Schools H.B. 42 Provides that prior to July 1, 2010, and annually thereafter, each local board of education shall certify to the State Board of Education (S... More... OK Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Pilot Outreach in Science and Math S.B. 79 Requires that $2,175,966.00 be expended for the purpose of developing and offering pilot outreach programs in science and mathematics (the O... More... GA Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Financial Incentives to Math and Science Teachers H.B. 280 Provides that effective July 2010, and until there is no longer a shortage of math and science teachers, a secondary school teacher licensed... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Mobile Learning Technology Pilot Program H.B. 1273 Creates the Mobile Learning Technology Pilot Program to provide for mobile learning in rural school districts; provides that each district p... More... CA Rule Adoption 01/2009 P-12 Single-Subject Teaching Credential Authorization Title 5 CCR Section 80004 Amends rules concerning single-subject teaching credential authorization. Allows for an additional option for employers to assign individual... More... IL Signed into law 08/2008 P-12 Assorted Amendments to the School Code S.B. 2482 Repeals the Professional Development Block Grant. Amends requirements related to annual census for special education, such that census must ... More... PA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Postsec. Budget Bill - H.B. 1067 Sets the school finance distribution formula based primarily on what it will take for students to meet the state's academic standards. The a... More... LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Science Education and Instruction S.B. 733 Creates the Science Education Act; relates to curriculum and instruction in public elementary and secondary schools; provides that, upon req... More... OK Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 State School of Science and Mathematics H.B. 2310 Relates to the State School of Science and Mathematics; requires budgeting in certain categories and amounts; requires performance measures;... More... KY Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Postsec. STEM S.B. 2 Defines "Advanced science and mathematics" as Advanced Placement (AP) biology, calculus, chemistry, computer science, environmental science,... More... KS Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science S.B. 404 Provides that the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS) may admit nonresident students. Requires KAMS students to pay those fees ... More... UT Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Teacher Salary Supplement Program S.B. 2 - Sections 19 and 20 Defines "qualifying educational background." Beginning in fiscal year 2008-2009, provides an annual salary supplement of $4,100 for a full-t... More... CA Signed into law 10/2007 P-12 Outdoor Science S.B. 95 Establishes eligibility criteria for a residential outdoor science program. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to apportion t... More... NY Adopted 08/2007 P-12 Summer Academies and Teacher Professional Development for Middle Grades Math and Science Title 8 NYCRR Section 100.14 and 100.15 Establishes criteria for the award of grants for the Excelsior Scholars program for grade 7 math and science students. Establishes criteria ... More... NC Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) Scholars Pilot Program. S.B. 1030 The purpose of the ROPE Scholars Pilot Program is to strengthen middle grades education in order to provide students with the opportunity to... More... OK Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 School of Science and Mathematics S.B. 194 Relates to the School of Science and Mathematics; requires budgeting in certain categories and amounts; requires certain performance measure... More... NV Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 District Budget Reporting, Grant Fund for Licensed Education Personnel A.B. 1A Revises provisions governing the inclusion of certain information in the biennial budget request for the state distributive school account f... More... TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Nature Science Curriuclum H.B. 1700 H.B. 1700 implements nature science curriculum on a statewide level. The Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Center of Texas Te... More... TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Intensive Math and Science Intervention Pilot H.B. 2504 Requires the commissioner to establish an intensive mathematics and algebra intervention pilot program for students not performing at grade ... More... CO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 After-school Science and Math Programs H.B. 1243 Establishes the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ("STEM") after-school education pilot grant program ("grant program") in t... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Teacher Center Duties H.F. 2245 [Mathematics and Science Teachers] Amends duties of teacher centers, requires teacher centers to provide a professional development program to train interested and highly qual... More... TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Science Lab Grant Program H.B. 2237 (Science Lab Provisions) One section of this bill creates a science laboratory grant program. Requires the commissioner to establish a competitive grant program to ... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Math and Science H.B. 1906 Declares that the activities in this act revise and strengthen the state learning standards that implement the essential academic learning r... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Outdoor Education and Recreation Program H.B. 1677 Declares an intent to establish an outdoor education and recreation program to provide a large number of underserved students with quality o... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. GET Ready for Math and Science Scholarship Program H.B. 1779 Establishes the GET ready for math and science scholarship program. The purpose of the program is to provide scholarships to students who ac... More... NY Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Excelsior Scholars and Summer Institutes for Grades 5-8 Math and Science Teachers S.B. 2107 - Part B, Section 39 Adds section 3641-A to the education code. Directs the commissioner to establish an Excelsior Scholars program for grade 7 math and science ... More... NY Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Science and Mathematics Tuition Reimbursement Program S.B. 2107 - Part B, Section 36 Creates science and mathematics tuition reimbursement program. Provides that of the amount appropriated for grants to schools for the 2007-2... More... NM Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Mathematics & Science Education Act H.B. 220/S.B. 552 Creates the Mathematics and Science Bureau within the department of education and a 12 member advisory council to advise the bureau. Defines... More... UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Governor's Science & Technology Education Program S.B. 217 Expands the informal science and technology education program within the Governor's Office of Economic Development to include the direct spo... More... VA Passed 03/2007 Postsec. Science/Technology Education in Graduate Programs H.J. 611 This joint resolution of the legislature establishes a joint subcommittee to study science and technology education in business, law, and po... More... UT Adopted 12/2006 P-12 Postsec. Public Education Job Enhancement Program Eligibility R690-100 Provides eligibility and award distribution requirements for the Public Education Job Enhancement Program (PEJEP), which offers funding to c... More... OH Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Ohio Core Graduation Requirements S.B. 311-- Sec. 3313.603(A), (B), (C) Part 1, (K) adn (L) Increases high school graduation requirements for students entering grade 9 during the 2010-2011 school year (Class of 2014). Increases math... More... TX Adopted 11/2006 P-12 High School Graduation Requirements TX 19 TAC 74.61 through 74.64 Increases the requirements for the Recommended and Distinguished high school curriculum options effective with the Class of 2011. Increases ... More... WV Adopted 11/2006 P-12 Science Content Standards & Objectives Title 126, Series 44R Amends rules regarding science content standards and objectives for grades 9 through 12 of West Virginia schools. http://wvde.state.wv.us/po... More... WV Adopted 10/2006 P-12 Science Content Standards & Objectives Title 126, Series 44C Amends rules regarding science content standards and objectives for West Virginia schools. http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/p2520.3_ne.pdf... More... MT Adopted 09/2006 P-12 Science Content Standards and Performance Descriptors ARM 10.54.5010 through 10.54.5098 non-seq Proposes to amend rules relating to science content standards andperformance descriptors. Includes references to Montana Native Americans an... More... CA Vetoed 09/2006 P-12 Science Coaches A.B. 937 Authorizes the governing board of a school district to designate a credentialed teacher as a science coach at each elementary school, or pro... More... CA Vetoed 09/2006 P-12 Science Teacher Development Program S.B. 1142 Establishes the Science Teacher Development Program by enacting provisions relating to science instruction that are similar to the existing ... More... NC Signed into law 08/2006 P-12 Math and Science Teachers Pilot Program S.B. 1741 Creates a pilot program providing for a salary supplement for newly hired teachers of mathematics or science at the middle or high school le... More... CA Vetoed 07/2006 P-12 Elementary Science Teachers and Curriculum A.B. 2423 Authorizes the governing board of a school district to designate a credentialed teacher as a science coach at each elementary school, or pro... More... OK Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 State School of Science and Mathematics H.B. 1021B Appropriates funds to the state school of science and mathematics. Directs the board of trustees to develop outcome-based performance measur... More... OH Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Postsec. Community College Ohio Core Support H.B. 115 Appropriates funds for support of the Ohio Core Program. Funds will be used to: (1) Support the participation of teachers licensed in Ohio a... More... NY Adopted 05/2006 P-12 State Graduation and Diploma Requirements for Mathematics and Science Title 8 NYCRR section 100.5 Amends requirements for Regents or local high school and Regents diploma with avanced designation. Regents or local high school diploma:  T... More... TX Adopted 05/2006 P-12 Postsec. Master Science Teacher Certificates 19 TAC 7.239.E.239.104 Establishes certification requirements for master science teachers to ensure that there are teachers with special training to mentor other t... More... MS Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Origins of Life H.B. 214 Provides that no local school board, school superintendent and school principal may prohibit a public school classroom teacher from discussi... More... NY Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 New York State Math and Science Teaching Incentive Program S.B. 9558 Provides that undergraduate and graduate students leading to a career as a secondary-level math or science teacher are eligible to apply for... More... AR Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 04/2006 P-12 Postsec. Elementary Science Specialist Program S.B. 16 Appropriates funds to the Department of Higher Education - to be payable from the Higher Education Grants Fund Account - for grants for the ... More... KS Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science S.B. 139 Establishes the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science as either: (1) An accelerated residential, or on-line distance learning program f... More... UT Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Postsec. Modifications to Qualifications for New Century Scholarships H.B. 326 Modifies the requirements to qualify for a New Century scholarship; allows a student to qualify for such scholarship who completes and appro... More... UT Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Supplemental Instruction and Math/Science H.B. 181 This bill provides stipends for supplemental instruction to students who have not passed the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test, funding to i... More... FL Adopted 03/2006 P-12 Science Assessments and Proficiency Levels FAC 6A-1.09422 Includes the science grade-level scale scores for each achievement level for use in reporting student proficiency levels in science as part ... More... NV Died 03/2006 P-12 Truth in Science Initiative Initiative Petition The Truth in Science Initiative (Initiative) proposes to add a new section to the Constitution regarding how evolution is to be taught in th... More... AK Adopted 12/2005 P-12 Standards-based science assessment 4 AAC 04.140 thru 06.825 Requires the commissioner to select a standards-based science assessment and school districts to administer the assessment in selected grade... More... MA Rule Adoption 07/2005 P-12 Comprehensive Assessment System and Standards 603 CMR 30.00 Amends the Comprehensive Assessment System and Standards for Competency Determination rules. Adds one discipline in science and technology a... More... OR Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Refusal to Dissect Animals S.B. 383 Allows any student to refuse to dissect any vertebrate or invertebrate animal or the parent or legal guardian of a public school student to ... More... GA Adopted 05/2005 P-12 Mathematics and Science Partnerships Grants GAC 160-1-4-.266, -.269 Establishes rules regarding the Mathematics and Science Partnerships Grants to build mathematics and science teachers' content knowledge and... More... NV Temporary Rule Adoption 05/2005 P-12 Academic Standards for Science NAC 389.244, .2947, .411, .491, .4915 Revises state academic standards for science. ... More... MS Rule Adoption 04/2005 P-12 Roadways into the Development of Elementary Students 941-9001--01500 Describes the process for prospective elementary schools to become involved in the Roadways into the Development of Elementary Students (RID... More... DE Rule Adoption 01/2005 P-12 Standard Certificate Science Teacher Middle Level 14 DAC 1542 Amends regulation relating to the certification of a science teacher of middle level by removing the requirements for earth science and phys... More... DE Rule Adoption 01/2005 P-12 Standard Certificate Science Teacher 14 DAC 1540, 1.0 - 4.0 Amends regulation relating to the Certification for a Science Teacher to clarify some of the requirements for a standard certificate and to ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Reimbursement for a new Science Facility A.B. 2855 (multiple provisions) SEC. 17: Existing law provides that no pupil shall receive a diploma of graduation from high school who, while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive,... More... MA Vetoed 07/2004 P-12 Science Class Dissections H.B. 1252 Provides that the Board of Education be directed to establish guidelines for dissections in science classes in the public schools of the Com... More... LA Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Fees for Louisiana School of Math, Science, and the Arts H.B. 431 Increases certain fees imposed by the board of directors of the state school of math, science, and the arts. Increases maximum possible sec... More... VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Substantial Amendments to the Standards of Learning H.B. 1014 Amends section 22.1-253.13:1 and 22.1-253.13:2 . Specifies that the Standards of Learning form the core of Virginia's educational program a... More... VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Student Dissection of Animals Alternatives H.B. 1018 Creates new section requiring school divisions to provide students alternatives to student dissection of animals. http://leg1.state.va.us/cg... More... ME Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 STARBASE Program http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/externalsiteframe.asp?ID=280011947&LD=1690&Type=1 In 1993, the United States Congress authorized the "Department of Defense STARBASE Program" and authorized the Department of Defense to ... More... MI Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Comprehensive Master Plan for Mathematics and Science Centers H.B. 4401 (multiple provisions) Sec. 99. (1) From the appropriations in section 11, there is allocated an amount not to exceed $2,500,000.00 for 2003-2004 for implementing ... More... IL Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Science Curriculum Materials H.B. 2332 In a Section concerning the loan of textbooks to students free of charge, provides that "textbook" includes science curriculum materials in ... More... IL Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Block Grant Program S.B. 201 Creates the Mathematics and Science Block Grant Program in order to provide greater flexibility and efficiency in the distribution and use o... More... FL Rule Adoption 06/2003 P-12 Teacher Certification FAC 6A-4.0323 A new certification subject area in general science was approved by the State Board of Education to be effective July 1, 2003. Leadership of... More... TX Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Public School Student Performance H.B. 411 Currently, Texas students' performance on tests in the areas of math and science are below the national average. In order to improve the te... More... UT Rule Adoption 06/2003 P-12 Math, Engineering, Science Achievement R277-717 Amends rules to increase the participation range for Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) students, change the Application Review C... More... CO Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Potential Testing in Mathematics and Science H.B. 1306 Provides that if sufficient funding from the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is obtained, directs the Department of Education to ad... More... NH Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Pre-Engineering Curriculum H.B. 1231 Establishes a pre-engineering technology curriculum in the public high schools in the state and creates a pre-engineering technology curricu... More... AL Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Board of Trustees of AL High School of Mathematics and Science H.B. 289 Relates to the membership of the Board of Trustees of the state High School of Mathematics and Science; provides that the Assistant State Su... More... CA Vetoed 09/2001 P-12 The use of toxic substances as part of educational instruction S.B. 286 Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health Services, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health... More... OR Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Mercury Safety S.B. 594 Provides the State Board of Education shall adopt rules eliminating the use and purchase of elemental mercury, mercury compounds and mercury... More... CO Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Creates the Science and Technology Education Center Grant Program H.B. 1365 Creates the Science and Technology Education Center Grant Program to provide start-up and operating money for science and technology educati... More... UT Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Postsec. Engineering/Computer Science Initiative; Secondary Teacher Preparation S.B. 61 Establishes a Public Education Job Enhancement Program to attract, train and retain highly qualified secondary teachers in math, physics, ch... More... CO Rejected by Voters 11/2000 P-12 State Science and Math Grants V. 6 REFERENDUM F (SB 4, 2000) Asks whether the State of Colorado shall be permitted to annually retain up to a specified amount of the state rev... More... CA Vetoed 09/2000 P-12 Marine Science Education Act A.B. 2330 Establishes the Marine Sciences Education Act of 2000 and a comprehensive marine science grant program for nonprofit aquariums, ocean instit... More... CA Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Postsec. Science/Tech Training A.B. 2883 Authorizes the Regents of the University of California to establish 3 California Institutes for Science and Innovation for the purpose of co... More... CT Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 High School Grant Program for Math, Science & Computers H.B. 5231 Provides that the Department of Education shall establish a competitive grant program for high school projects that involve one or more of t... More...