1. Certification Requirements
A. Grades 9-12
- Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science (2004): N/A
- Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment (2004): N/A
- Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification (2004): N/A.
- Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers (2006-2007): State knowledge/ability standards.
B. Grades 6-8
- Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science (2004): N/A.
- Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments (2004):
- Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science (2004): N/A
- Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers (2006-2007): State knowledge/ability standards.
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2. Course Requirements: 2005-2006 School Year
A. Grades 9-12
- Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 4.
- Required science courses: Biology; Physical Science. 1 Biology, 1 Physical Science (Physical Science, Chemistry or Physics), 2 Elective courses (Anatomy and Physiology, Aqua science, Astronomy, Botany, Earth and Space Science, Environmental Science, Genetics, Geology, Marine Biology, Zoology)
- Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes.
- Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? No.
- If Earth science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements? Yes.
- Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes
- Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Not Available.
- If Environmental science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements? Yes.
B. Grades 6-8
- Is Earth Science part of the middle school science curriculum (grades 6-8)? Yes.
- Is it taught as a full year curriculum or an integrated curriculum? Integrated.
- At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 6th-8th.
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3. K-12 Enrollment
A. Student Enrollment: 2004-2005 School Year
Grades |
K-12 |
K-5 |
6-8 |
9-12 |
Students |
728,146 |
339,621 |
180,142 |
208,383 |
B. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses: 2003-2004 School Year
Course |
Earth science |
Chemistry |
Biology |
Physics |
Percent |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
C. Enrollment trends in Grade 9 Earth science: 1996-2004
Year |
Percent |
Students |
1996-97 |
2% |
1,284 |
1997-98 |
3% |
1,911 |
1999-00 |
9% |
5,504 |
2003-04 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
D. Students in grades 7-8 enrolled in selected science courses: 1999-2000 vs. 2003-2004 School Years
|
1999-2000 |
2003-2004 |
Course |
Students
(Percentage) |
Students
(Percentage) |
Earth Science |
2,303
(2%) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
General Science |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Physical Science |
1,152
(1%) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Life Science |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Integrated or Coordinated Science |
94,439
(82%) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
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4. Science Standards: 2005-2006 School Year
- Standards Publication: Alabama Courses of Study: Science
- Year in which science standards were adopted: 2006
- Are state standards determined at the district level? Not Available
- When will the state standards be revised? Not Available.
The National Science Education Standards outline the concepts and principles that students should understand about Earth and space science. At the middle school level, the standards are divided into three areas: Structure of the Earth System, Earth’s History, and Earth in the Solar System. At the high school level, the standards are divided into four areas: Energy in the Earth System, Geochemical Cycles, Origin and Evolution of the Earth System, and Origin and Evolution of the Universe. For the AGI Report, the Earth science standards for each state were reviewed to determine whether they incorporate the concepts and principles outlined in the National Science Education Standards.
A. Do the state standards for grades 9-12 contain principles and concepts related to:
| Energy in the Earth system? Yes |
Origin and evolution of the Earth system? Yes |
Geochemical cycles? Yes |
Origin and evolution of the universe? Yes |
B. Do the state standards for grades 9-12 include environmental science concepts?
Yes. Emphasis within standards for matter, energy and organization in living systems, biological evolution, interdependence of organisms.
C. Do the state standards for grades 5-8 contain principles and concepts related to:
| Structure of the Earth system? Yes |
Earth in the Solar System? Yes |
Earth’s history? Yes |
|
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5. Testing and Assessment
A. State Science Tests: 2006-2007 School Year
Test |
Grade Levels Tested: |
Earth Science Component on the Test? |
Yes: Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE) |
10 and 11 |
No |
Yes: Stanford 10 and the companion Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, Eighth Edition (OLSAT 8) |
3, 4, 5 ,6, 7, 8, |
life science, physical science, earth/space sciences, and the nature of science in Grades 5 and 7. |
None: |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
B. State High School Exit Exam: 2006-07 School Year
- Name of Exam: Alabama High School Graduation Exam
- Type of Test: Standards based
- Does the exam have a science component? Yes.
- At what grade do students first take the exam? 10
- Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? Yes.
- Does the exam have an Earth science component? No
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6. Textbook Adoptions: 2003-2004 School Year
- Does the state select or recommend textbooks?
Selects and Recommends.
- Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level:
Glencoe Physical Science, Student Edition; Glencoe Earth Science: Geology, the Environment and the Universe, Student Edition; Earth Science Student Edition- publisher: Globe-Fearon; Holt Science Spectrum; Modern Earth Science- publisher: HRW; Earth Science Student Edition W/ CD-ROM, HS binding-publisher: Prentice Hall; Earth Science Student Edition W/ CD-ROM, HS binding-publisher: Prentice Hall; Physical Geology Exploring the Earth with Earth Systems Today CD-ROM, 4/E -publisher: Wadsworth
- Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Holt Environmental Science; Environmental Science Student Edition- publisher Prentice Hall; Environmental Science Student Edition-publisher: prentice Hall; Glencoe Exploring Environmental Problems Laboratory Manual, Student Edition; Environmental Science Student Edition, HS binding- publisher: Prentice Hall Environmental Science: Working with the Earth, 8/E-publisher: Wadsworth
- Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level:
Holt Life Science; Holt Earth Science; Holt Physical Science; Holt (F) Inside the Restless Earth; Holt (G) Holt Earth's Changing Surface; Holt (H) Water on Earth; Holt (I) Weather and Climate; Inside the Earth Student Edition-Publisher: Prentice Hall; Earth's Changing Surface Student Edition-Publisher: Prentice Hall; Earth's Waters-Publisher: Prentice Hall; Science Explorer Earth Science-Publisher: Prentice Hall
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