1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science (2004): N/A
Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment (2004): N/A
Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification (2004): N/A
Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers (2006-2007): Requires a specific minimum number of units in the subject area taught; specifies components in program.

B. Grades 6-8

Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science (2004): N/A
Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments (2004): N/A
Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science (2004):N/A
Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers (2006-2007): Requires a specific minimum number of units in the subject area taught; specifies components in program.

2. Course Requirements: 2006-2007 School Year

A. Grades 9-12

Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 2.
Required science courses: The essential Academic Learning Requirements guide instruction. 1 of the 2 credits must be a lab science, sciences categorized as Physical, Life, or Earth.
Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? No, most districts do not suggest Earth science courses.
Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? Determined at the district level. Districts decide; integrated science courses are offered in some districts.
If Earth science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements? Yes. Earth science counts if it has a lab component.
Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? School decision School dependent with district approval.
Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Yes. Some schools offer Environmental science integrated into other courses
If Environmental science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements? Yes. Environmental science can, if it has a lab component.

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. Mainly integrated.
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	1,008,084	443,755	239,729	324,600

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	Not Available	Not Available
1997-98	Not Available	Not Available
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)	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	Not Available (Not Available)	Not Available (Not Available)

4. Science Standards: 2006-2007 School Year

Standards Publication: Essential Academic Learning Requirements
Year in which science standards were adopted: 2005
Are state standards determined at the district level? Districts adopt the state standards.
When will the state standards be revised? 2011-2013.

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 within design standard: solutions to human problems in social context.

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?
Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).	5, 8, and 10	At all grade levels.
None:	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
None:	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

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

Name of Exam: Washington Assessment of Student Learning
Type of Test: Standards based
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? Beginning in 2008
Does the exam have an Earth science component? No.

6. Textbook Adoptions: 2003-2004 School Year

Does the state select or recommend textbooks? No. currently, districts decide, but the process will become more state guided.
Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: N/A
Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: N/A
Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level: N/A

State Contact Person

Eric Wuersten	Science Program Supervisor
Office of Superintendent of Public Instrution Old Capitol Building P.O. Box 47200 Olympia, WA 98504-7200	eric.wuersten@k12.wa.us 360-725-6311