Maine

  1. Certification Requirements
  2. Course Requirements
  3. K-12 Enrollment
  4. Science Standards
  5. Testing and Assessment
  6. Textbook Adoptions
  7. State Contact Person

1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

  1. Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science (2004): N/A
  2. Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment (2004): N/A
  3. Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification (2004): N/A
  4. Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers (2006-2007): 36 hour major in the subject area taught

B. Grades 6-8

  1. Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science (2004): N/A
  2. Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments (2004): N/A
  3. Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science (2004): N/A
  4. Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers (2006-2007): 36-hour major in the subject area taught, plus 6 Education, 6 Math, 6 Science, 6 Social studies hours.

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2. Course Requirements: 2006-2007 School Year

A. Grades 9-12

  1. Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 2.
  2. Required science courses: Students choose. One must be a lab course
  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? Yes. Integrated courses with an Earth science component are offered in many districts.
  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? No.
  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. 
  3. 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

197,073

85,429

49,099

62,545

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

57%

9,034

1997-98

58%

9,645

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)

[Grades 6-8: AGI Survey, Feb 2004]
(30%)

General Science

Not Available
(Not Available)

Not Available
(Not Available)

Physical Science

Not Available
(Not Available)

[Grades 6-8: AGI Survey, Feb 2004]
(30%)

Life Science

Not Available
(Not Available)

[Grades 6-8: AGI Survey, Feb 2004]
(30%)

Integrated or Coordinated Science

Not Available
(Not Available)

[Grades 6-8: AGI Survey, Feb 2004]
(10% for grades 6-8)


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4. Science Standards: 2006-2007 School Year

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? No

Geochemical cycles? No

Origin and evolution of the universe? Yes

B. Do the state standards for grades 9-12 include environmental science concepts?
Yes.  Ecology section of standards: Emphasis on how living things depend on one another and non-living aspects of the environment (cycles of matter, interrelationships, photosynthesis and respiration, populations, and human impact on 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

 

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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?

 Maine Educational Assessment

3,4, 5, 6,7, 8, 11

Grades 4 and 8

None:

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

None:

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

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

  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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6. Textbook Adoptions: 2003-2004 School Year

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State Contact Person

Tom Keller

Science Specialist/REST

Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333

tom.keller@main.gov
207-624-6828

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