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1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science: 1,702
2. Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment:  190
3. Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification: 98%
4. Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers: Min 30 hours in endorsement subject, min of 9 hours in related subject; major required

B. Grades 6-8

1. Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science: 913
2. Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments: 954
3. Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science: 62%
4. Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers: Min 30 hours in endorsement subject, min of 9 hours in related subject; major required

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2. Course Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 2.
2. Required science courses: 2, but districts decide what courses they are.
3.  Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? No, the State currently does not recommend specific courses and will change under secondary school reform to require 3 courses, one life science, one physical science and one additional science.
4. Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? Yes. There are no strictly Earth science courses, but there are elements of Earth science in grades 9 and 10 science courses.
5. If Earth science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements?  Yes.
6. Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? No
7. Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Yes, in selected units, though no courses strictly recommended.
8.  If Environmental science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements?   Yes. 

B. Grades 6-8

1. Is Earth Science part of the middle school science curriculum (grades 6-8)?  Yes, framework is integrated, but some schools may teach a course in Earth science.
2. Is it taught as a full year curriculum or an integrated curriculum?  Integrated. 
3. At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 6th-8th.

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3. K-12 Enrollment

A. Student Enrollment

Grades	K-12	K-5	6-8	9-12
Students	56,330	250,210	129,551	176,569

B. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses

Course	Earth science	Chemistry	Biology	Physics
Percent	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available

C. Enrollment trends in Grade 9 Earth science

Year	Percent	Students
1996-97	40%	16,401
1997-98	36%	15,017
1999-00	39%	17,151
2003-04	Not Available	Not Available

D. Students in grades 7-8 enrolled in selected science courses

	1999-2000	2003-2004
Course	Students (Percentage)	Students (Percentage)
Earth Science	5,875 (7%)	Not Available (Not Available)
General Science	33,572 (40%)	Not Available (Not Available)
Physical Science	11,750 (14%)	Not Available (Not Available)
Life Science	17,625 (21%)	Not Available (Not Available)
Integrated or Coordinated Science	11,750 (14%)	Not Available (Not Available)

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4. K-12 Indicators

	State	National
Average Freshman Graduation Rate	80.9%	73.2%
College Enrollment Rate	62.9%	68.6%
AP Participation Rate	29%	25%

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5. Science Standards

• Standards Publication: Connecticut Framework K-8 (adobe pdf) | Connecticut Framework 9-12
• Year in which science standards were adopted: 2010 for K-8; 2004 for 9-12
• Are state standards determined at the district level? Districts adopt the state standards but can add to them.
• When will the state standards be revised?  N/A

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 includes population dynamics, sustainable use of natural resources, degradation of the environment standards.

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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6. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT): Generation III	10	Yes
Connectictu Mastery Test (CMT)	5 and 8	Yes

B. State High School Exit Exam

1. Name of Exam: Not Applicable
2. Type of Test: Not Applicable
3. Does the exam have a science component? Not Applicable.
4. At what grade do students first take the exam? Not Applicable
5. Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? Not Applicable.
6. Does the exam have an Earth science component? Not Applicable.

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7. Textbook Adoptions

• Does the state select or recommend textbooks? No. Depending on school
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: N/A
• Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level:  N/A
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level:  N/A

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8. Undergraduate Education

Students Graduating with an Associates Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
N/A	N/A	460	N/A	618

Students Graduating with a Bachelor's Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
215	63	2,050	2,328	346

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9. Graduate Education

Students Graduating with a Master's Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
95	17	1,064	1,176	162

Students Graduating with a Doctorate Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
66	10	260	336	N/A

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10. State Contact Person

Mary Anne Butler	Science Consultant, 9-12
Connecticut State Department of Education 165 Capitol Aveune Hartford, Connecticut 06145	maryanne.butler@ct.gov 860-713-6737

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