1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science (2004): 2,913
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): Specific min. number of units in subject area taught, specifies components in program; major required.

B. Grades 6-8

Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science (2004):1,980
Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments (2004): 2,125
Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science (2004): 14%
Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers (2006-2007): Specific min. number of units in subject area taught, specifies components in program; major required.

2. Course Requirements: 2006-2007School Year

A. Grades 9-12

Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 3.
Required science courses: One Life science and one Physical science unit. One Life science course, one physical science course, and one other elective science course.
Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? No. Earth science is categorized as a physical science course. It is not a core course. Districts decide whether to put it into the curriculum.
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, Earth science fulfills the physical science or elective science requirement.
Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? District decision Environmental science is categorized as a physical science course. It is not a core course. Districts decide whether to put it into the curriculum.
Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Yes. Portions of Biology course or Applied Biology course have environmental science concepts.
If Environmental science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements? Yes. Yes, Environmental science fulfills the physical science or elective science requirement.

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? Full Year.
At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 8th.

3. K-12 Enrollment

A. Student Enrollment: 2004-2005 School Year

Grades	K-12	K-5	6-8	9-12
Students	1,515,646	712,668	367,920	435,058

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	Not Available	Not Available
1997-98	Not Available	Not Available
1999-00	Not Available	Not Available
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	Not Available (Not Available)	Not Available (Not Available)
General Science	Not Available (Not Available)	Not Available (Not Available)
Physical Science	Not Available (Not Available)	Not Available (Not Available)
Life Science	Not Available (Not Available)	Not Available (Not Available)
Integrated or Coordinated Science	Not Available (Not Available)	Not Available (Not Available)

4. Science Standards: 2003-2004 School Year

Standards Publication: Georgia Standards
Year in which science standards were adopted: 2005
Are state standards determined at the district level? Districts write their own standards and use the state standards as a guideline.
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 Human Population Growth and Cultural Revolutions, Advent of Environmental Concerns, Energy Resources, Conservation, Environmental Problems, Air, Atmosphere, and Air Pollution, Water and Water Scarcity, Water Pollution and Conservation,

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

5. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests: 2005-06 School Year

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
Georgia High School Graduation Tests	11 and 12	No
Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT)	3, 4, 5, 6, 7	3-5 Earth, physical and life science. 6 astronomy, hydrology and meteorology, geology.
None:	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

B. State High School Exit Exam: 2006-2007 School Year

Name of Exam: Georgia High School Graduation Tests
Type of Test: Standards based
Does the exam have a science component? Yes. Physical science and biology
At what grade do students first take the exam? 11
Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? Yes.
Does the exam have an Earth science component? No.

6. Textbook Adoptions: 2003-2004 School Year

Does the state select or recommend textbooks? Selects and Recommends. Districts select books. State makes preliminary recommendations.
Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: It's About Time: EarthComm; Glencoe: Earth Science; Glencoe: The Environment and the Universe; Holt: Modern Earth Science.
Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Amsco School Publishing, Inc: Environmental Science; J.M. LeBel Enterprises: Environmental Science.
Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level: It's About Time: Investigating Earth Systems; FOSS: Environments Module; FOSS Landforms Module; GEMS: Environmental Detecting; Person Education, Inc: Concepts and Challenges: Earth Science; Prentice Hall: Science Explorer: Earth Science; Holt: Science and Technology: Earth Science.

State Contact Person

Stephen Pruitt	State Science Superintendent
Georgia Department of Education 1766 Twin Towers East Atlanta, GA 30334	spruitt@doe.k12.ga.us 404-656-0478