Printable Version

---

1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science (2004): 859
2. Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment (2004): 18
3. Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification (2004): 67%
4. Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers (2006-2007): 31 hours in each content area of certification with specific courses required within most areas

B. Grades 6-8

1. Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science (2004): 462
2. Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments (2004): 561
3. Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science (2004): 92%
4. Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers (2006-2007): 19 hours in each content focus area with specific courses required within most areas

Back to top

---

2. Course Requirements: 2007-2008 School Year

A. Grades 9-12

1. Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 4 science credits are required for the regular diploma. With parental consent, after grade 10, students may opt out of the recommended graduation requirements (Core Four) and meet only basic requirements of 3 sciences and social studies to receive a diploma showing that they met minimal requirements.
2. Required science courses: 1 unit of biology, one unit from the physical sciences, + two of student choice for a total of four courses.
3. Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes.
4. Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? It is integrated in the ninth grade Physical Science course as well as the Biology I course, so that students will receive instruction in the basic ES concepts even if they choose not to enroll in Earth Science or if it is not offered at their school.
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? Yes.
7. Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Some of the Environmental science concepts overlap with Biology I and Earth Science courses, especially ecology concepts & and bio-geochemical cycles, but it is not cited as part of another course.
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.
2. Is it taught as a full year curriculum or an integrated curriculum?  Full Year.  At the 8th grade level.
3. At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 8th.

Back to top

---

3. K-12 Enrollment

A. Student Enrollment: 2004-2005 School Year

Grades	K-12	K-5	6-8	9-12
Students	700,814	335,036	175,221	190,530

B. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses: 2003-2004 School Year

Course	Earth science	Chemistry	Biology	Physics
Percent	4%	59%	95%	22%

C. Enrollment trends in Grade 9 Earth science: 1996-2004

Year	Percent	Students
1996-97	12%	8,199
1997-98	11%	7,205
1999-00	11%	7,026
2003-04	4%	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	21,794 (19%)	Not Available (16%)
General Science	11,471 (10%)	Not Available
Physical Science	Not Available (Not Available)	Not Available (Not Available)
Life Science	26,383 (23%)	Not Available (22%)
Integrated or Coordinated Science	9,177 (8%)	Not Available (13%

Back to top

---

4. Science Standards: 2007-2008 School Year

• Standards Publication: Louisiana Science Frameworks
• Year in which science standards were adopted: Framework – 1997; Grade-Level Expectations - 2004
• Are state standards determined at the district level? No
• When will the state standards be revised? 2009-10

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 – there is an overlap, but there is a separate strand in the standards for Science and the Environment.

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

Back to top

---

5. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests: 2007-2008 School Year

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
LEAP: Grade 4	1-4	Yes Grade 3 – 20 % Grade 5 – 22 %
LEAP: Grade 8	5-8	Gr. 4 - 17-20 % Gr. 8 – 24%
Graduation Exit Examination (GEE )	9- 11	Yes. 20%

B. State High School Exit Exam: 2007-2008 School Year

1. Name of Exam: Graduation Exit Examination for the 21st Century
2. Type of Test: Criterion Refrenced
3. Does the exam have a science component? Yes.
4. At what grade do students first take the exam? 11
5. Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? Yes.
6. Does the exam have an Earth science component? 17% of the Science GEE is on Earth and Space Science

Back to top

---

6. Textbook Adoptions: 2007-2008 School Year

• Does the state select or recommend textbooks? Yes, Louisiana is an adoption state 
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Glencoe - Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, & the Universe; HRW – Modern Earth Science; Its About Time – EarthComm (5 modules); McDougal Litell – Earth Science
• Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Kendall Hunt – Global Science: Energy, Resources, Environment; Thompson Learning - Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, & Solutions
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level:  Delta Ed. - Earth History + Planetary Science; Glencoe – Earth Science; Holt – Holt Science & Technology Earth Science; Its About Time – Investigating Earth Systems ( 9 modules); Prentiss Hall - Earth Science

Back to top

---

State Contact Person

Ann Wilson	Science Program Coordinator
Louisiana Department of Education P.O. Box 94064 Baton Rouge, LA  70804-9064	ann.wilson@la.gov 225-342-0140

Back to top