1.Certification Requirements
A. Grades 9-12
- Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science (2004): 488
- Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment (2004): 167
- Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification (2004): 62%
- Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers (2006-2007): Major/minor required; requires a specific min number of units in the subject area taught.
B. Grades 6-8
- Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science (2004): 548
- Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments (2004): 651
- Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science (2004): 78%
- Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers (2006-2007): Major/minor required; requires a specific min number of units in the subject area taught.
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2. Course Requirements: 2006-2007 School Year
A. Grades 9-12
- Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 2 (3 as of 2010-2011 school year)
- Required science courses: Any 2 units from 4 science course: Earth science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
- Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes, recommended at grade 9.
- 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.
- Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes At the AP level (AP Environmental science)
- Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? No.
- If Environmental science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements? No.
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? Integrated.
- At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 7th-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 |
494,571 |
234,244 |
112,165 |
148,162 |
B. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses: 2003-2004 School Year
Course |
Earth science |
Chemistry |
Biology |
Physics |
Percent |
95% |
59% |
95% |
28% |
C. Enrollment trends in Grade 9 Earth science: 1996-2004
Year |
Percent |
Students |
1996-97 |
34% |
13,172 |
1997-98 |
30% |
11,176 |
1999-00 |
38% |
13,665 |
2003-04 |
95% |
Not Available |
D. Students in grades 7-8 enrolled in selected science courses: 1999-2000 vs. 2003-2994 School Years
|
1999-2000 |
2003-2004 |
Course |
Students
(Percentage) |
Students
(Percentage) |
Earth Science |
2,090
(3%) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
General Science |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Physical Science |
1,393
(2%) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Life Science |
4,180
(6%) |
Not Available
(Not Available) |
Integrated or Coordinated Science |
60,607
(87%) |
Not Available
(63%) |
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4. Science Standards: 2006-2007 School Year
- Standards Publication: Utah K-12 Core Curriculum
- Year in which science standards were adopted: 2003
- Are state standards determined at the district level? Not Available
- When will the state standards be revised? Not Available
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?
No.
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? |
Utah Core Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRTs) |
4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Yes |
|
|
|
Curriculum Performance Assessment |
4, 8 |
Yes |
B. State High School Exit Exam: 2006-2007 School Year
- Name of Exam: Utah Basic Skills Competency Test
- Type of Test: Minimum competency
- Does the exam have a science component? No
- At what grade do students first take the exam? 10
- Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma?Yes
- Does the exam have an Earth science component? No.
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6. Textbook Adoptions: 2003-2004 School Year
- Does the state select or recommend textbooks? Selects and Recommends.
- Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: AGE: Earth Science; ExamGen: Earth Science A and Earth Science B; Glencoe: Earth Science; Glencoe: Science Indicators; Glencoe: Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe; Holt Science + Science and Technology; Holt Modern Earth Science; It's About Time: EarthComm; Kendall/ Hunt Global Science : Energy, Resources, Environment; McDougall: Earth Science
- Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Prentice Hall: Environmental Science; AMSCO: Environmental Science: Holt: Environmental Science; Oceanography: Invitation to marine science; Environmental Science: How the world works and your place in it; Prentice Hall/Addison Wesley: Scott Foresman: Environmental Science; Prentice Hall: Environmental Science: Towards a Sustainable Future; Wadsworth: Sustaining the Earth: An Integrated Approach.
- Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level: Bigchalk: Classmates: Earth Science; Carolina: Gems Series; Carolina: Science and Technology Concepts for Middle School series; Center Point Learning: Essential Interactions; Curriculum Research: FAST series; DELTA: FOSS series; Glencoe: Science: An Introduction to Life, Earth, and Physical Science; Glencoe Science Interactions: Glencoe Science Module Series; GLOBE: Concepts and Challenges Series; Great Source: Science Day Books: Earth Science; It's About Time: Investigating Earth Science; Prentice Hall: Science Explorations: Earth Science.
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State Contact Person
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