1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science (2004): 1,909
Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment (2004): 336
Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification (2004): 92%
Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers (2006-2007): Approved program plus 30 hours in content area.

B. Grades 6-8

Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science (2004): 113
Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments (2004): 114
Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science (2004): 96%
Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers (2006-2007): Approved program plus 30 hours in content area.

2. Course Requirements: 2006 -2007 School Year

A. Grades 9-12

Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 3.
Required science courses: Biology, Physical Science, plus one additional
Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Determined at the district level. Earth science, Astronomy and Geology are recommended courses in most districts.
Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? Yes. Earth science can be part of an integrated course. For example, an Earth science component in the Science Skills and Reasoning course and in the Spatial Information course.
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 A half-year course that is offered for 0.5 credits.
Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? No.
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? Both.
At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 6th-8th.

3. K-12 Enrollment

A. Student Enrollment: 2004-2005 School Year

Grades	K-12	K-5	6-8	9-12
Students	492,753	230,874	119,794	129,253

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

Course	Earth science	Chemistry	Biology	Physics
Percent	2%	46%	92%	12%

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

Year	Percent	Students
1996-97	2%	866
1997-98	2%	835
1999-00	5%	1,970
2003-04	2%	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	70,860 (93%)	Not Available (98%)

4. Science Standards: 2006-2007 School Year

Standards Publication: Mississippi State Frameworks
Year in which science standards were adopted: 2001
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? 2008. Standards revised on a 6-year cycle

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 flow of matter and energy in ecosystems, relationships and changes within an ecosystem, biomes, resources and human activities in the local 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

5. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests: 2006-2007 School Year

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
None:
None:	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
None:	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

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

Name of Exam: Mississippi Subject Area Testing Program
Type of Test: End-of-course
Does the exam have a science component? Biology
At what grade do students first take the exam? varies
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? Select. There is a textbook procurement and adoption office that makes sure books match framework.
Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Glencoe: Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe; Holt: Modern Earth Science; It's About Time: EarthComm; Glencoe: Physical Geology
Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Glencoe: Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelationships, 2002; Glencoe: Environmental Science: A Global Concern; Holt Environmental Science; Jones and Bartlett publishers: Environmental Science: Crating a Sustainable Future; Prentice Hall: Environmental Science; Wadsworth: Environmental Science: Working with the Earth; Wadsworth: Living in the Environment; Wadsworth: Race to save the Planet; Wadsworth: Environmental Ethics, and intro to Environmental Philosophy.
Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level: Glencoe Science: Exploring Life, Earth, and Physical Sciences, grades 6,7,8; Glencoe Science: Earth Materials and Processes; Glencoe Science: Changing Surface of the Earth; Holt Science and Technology; Prentice Hall: Inside Earth; Prentice Hall: Earth's Water; Prentice Hall: Earth's Changing Surface; Prentice Hall: Science Explorer: Earth Science.

State Contact Person

Mary Wroten	Science Specialist
Mississippi Department. of Education Suite 330 Central High School P.O. Box 771 Jackson, MS 39205-0771	mwroten@mde.k12.ms.us 601-359-2586