Parking Lot Summaries of STEM

National Standards

ESEA 2002 (NCLB).   An act that was established to set achieving standards for schools and served as a resource that showed where achievement gaps occurred.

Next Generation Science Standards.   Standards that were established through collaboration to help students be  more proficient in science.  The hope was that they would be better prepared for the work force and college since there was also a correlation with career and citizenship skills.

Project 2061.    A reform that was established to create benchmarks at specific points in educational learning as a way to assess science proficiency while creating effective resources for teachers.

Common Core Standards for Math.    A set of guidelines to help direct teachers in what students should be able to do where teachers should be focusing on fewer topics that go into a  more in-depth understanding of the processes.

ISTE Standards for Teachers.   An outline of skills and pedagogies that teachers need in order to be able to teach students in a manner that allows them to learn with proficiency where there is a focus on technology.

ITEEA Standards for Technology Literacy.    There is a focus on more technology in schools that  helps promote literacy and how it can be applied to different fields of study.

State Standards

APG and VERSO STEM Education Resources.   Resources that serve as planning guides for guidance counselors or administrators that are responsible for  a students course planning.  Courses are outline based on particular career choices or paths interested in by the student.

Virginia 2010 Science Standards of Learning.   An outline of what teachers are expected to teach and what students are expected to learn at each grade level or based on each particular science course.  The common thread in all of the science standards is scientific investigation while there are other strands that are repeated in multiple course but the depth  or required knowledge varies.

Virginia 2009 Mathematics Standards of Learning.    An outline of the required strands students are expected to learn at different levels.  It’s a resource for teachers providing them with the required learning and materials that could be implemented.

Virginia College and Career Readiness Initiative.    An emphasis that has been placed on preparing students for their future regardless of whether it is going to college or starting with a trade job after high school graduation.  The premise is to expose students to the skills that are required for reading, math, and writing for the path of their choosing.

Local

Newport News Instructional STEM.  An initiative taken by the school system to provide ways for all students to be ready for college, a career, and to be a productive member of society.