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1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science: N/A
2. Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment:N/A
3. Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification: N/A
4. Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers: Approved program.

B. Grades 6-8

1. Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science: N/A
2. Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments: N/A
3. Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science: N/A
4. Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers: Approved program.

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2. Course Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 3 (some schools require 4).
2. Required science courses (these vary with the school): Most often in VT high schools Earth/Space Science is an elective. Schools struggle with trying to accommodate Bio, Chemistry, Physics and Earth/Space Science into a 3-year requirement; Many of the smaller schools DO have a year of Geology or Earth/Science included in their programs; Some of the larger schools avoid Earth/Space Science or include it as part of an Environmental Science course; A few schools offer an ‘Integrated Science’ course for 9th graders—and that includes basic Earth/Space principles.
3. Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Vermont does not have a state-wide curriculum. Each school determines their own program. State assessment (NECAP) includes Earth/Space Science content within 25% of its items, and this is proving to be an incentive for schools to incorporate this content into their curriculum.
4. Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? Earth/Space Science appears as an elective or a portion of Environmental Science in many Vermont high schools.
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? Many Vermont schools do include an Environmental Science course and/or the AP Environmental Science option. Again, Vermont does not have a state-wide curriculum. They are working on a program to address the NASA Principals of climate literacy for K-12 science teachers.
7. Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Environmental science may be an elective for Vermont high school science students.
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?  Usually integrated with other content or as science kit instruction (e.g. STC’s Land and Water, or Rock Cycle). 
3. At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 6th-8th.

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3. K-12 Enrollment

A. Student Enrollment

Grades	K-12	K-5	6-8	9-12
Students	87,489	37,660	20,012	29,817

B. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses

Course	Earth science	Chemistry	Biology	Physics
Percent	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available

C. Enrollment trends in Grade 9 Earth science

Year	Percent	Students
1996-97	Not Available	Not Available
1997-98	48%	4,237
1999-00	37%	3,237
2003-04	Not Available	Not Available

D. Students in grades 7-8 enrolled in selected science courses

	1999-2000	2003-2004
Course	Students (Percentage)	Students (Percentage)
Earth Science	1,135 (7%)	Not Available (Not Available)
General Science	3,568 (22%)	Not Available (Not Available)
Physical Science	2,595 (16%)	Not Available (Not Available)
Life Science	3,892 (24%)	Not Available (Not Available)
Integrated or Coordinated Science	4,379 (27%)	Not Available (Not Available)

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4. K-12 Indicators

	State	National
Average Freshman Graduation Rate	82.3%	73.2%
College Enrollment Rate	54.5%	68.6%
AP Participation Rate	29%	25%

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5. Science Standards

• Standards Publication: Vermont Grade Expectations; Vermont Framework of Standards; NECAP Science Target information (This guide is the basis for science item development for NECAP Science and teachers use the information as a guide when modifying curriculum.)
• Year in which science standards were adopted: Vermont Grade Expectations; Vermont Framework of Standards (2000)
• Are state standards determined at the district level? State Standards are adopted by state legislature, usually after development by state-wide teacher committees. Each district decides their own emphasis within these standards.
• When will the state standards be revised?  Currently Vermont’s Technology Standards and Grade Expectations are being reviewed to determine how they might be integrated within all other content areas. There is currently no date established for the next iteration of the Science Grade Expectations.

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? No	Origin and evolution of the universe? No

B. Do the state standards for grades 9-12 include environmental science concepts?
Yes.  Emphasis within "The Universe, Earth, and the Environment" standards.  Includes resource management, ecological interactions and interdependence between humans and the environment.

C. Do the state standards for grades 5-8 contain principles and concepts related to:

Structure of the Earth system? No	Earth in the Solar System? No
Earth’s history? Yes

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6. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
NECAP Science	4, 8, 11	Yes, 25%

B.State High SchoolExit Exam

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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7. Textbook Adoptions

• Does the state select or recommend textbooks? The Vermont Department Of Education does not make formal of textbooks, nor is a recommended list of textbooks provided. 
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Varies from school to school
• Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level:Varies from school to school
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level: Varies from school to school

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8. Undergraduate Education

Students Graduating with an Associates Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
2	N/A	153	N/A	185

Students Graduating with a Bachelor's Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
42	28	766	836	85

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9. Graduate Education

Students Graduating with a Master's Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
4	4	94	102	7

Students Graduating with a Doctorate Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
7	N/A	30	37	N/A

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10. State Contact Person

Gail Hall	Science Assessment Coordinator
Vermont Department of Education 120 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2501	gail.hall@state.vt.us 802-828-0156

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