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1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science: 1,728
2. Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment: 242
3. Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification: 95%
4. Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers: Competence based on job-related objectives.

B. Grades 6-8

1. Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science: 725
2. Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments: 725
3. Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science: 92%
4. Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers: Competence based on job-related objectives.

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2. Course Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 3 for students who are on a non-professional path, 4 for students on the professional path (college entrance)
2. Required science courses: As of July 2008, entering freshmen will need- Physical Science, Biology or Conceptual Biology and one other Science course (non professional path) or two other science courses (professional path).
3. Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? No, however, objectives that address earth science concepts are embedded in the K-8 curriculum, and in the 9th grade Physical Science course.
4. Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? No.
5. If Earth science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements?  Yes, at this time it will count as a third science; in two years, it will count as an elective.
6. Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? No, however, objectives that address environmental science concepts are embedded in the K-8 curriculum, and in the 9th grade Physical Science course.
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?   Some local areas (counties/school districts) may offer environmental science as an elective.

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?  Integrated. 
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	268,773	123,999	62,117	82,657

B. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses

Course	Earth science	Chemistry	Biology	Physics
Percent	3%	17%	17%	11%

C. Enrollment trends in Grade 9 Earth science

Year	Percent	Students
1996-97	2%	520
1997-98	3%	754
1999-00	1%	239
2003-04	3%	Not Available

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

	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	43,073 (96%)	Not Available (100%)

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4. K-12 Indicators

	State	National
Average Freshman Graduation Rate	76.9%	73.2%
College Enrollment Rate	57.9%	68.6%
AP Participation Rate	15.3%	25%

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5. Science Standards

• Standards Publication: Content Standards and Objectives Policies
• Year in which science standards were adopted: 2008
• Are state standards determined at the district level? State level.
• When will the state standards be revised?  As needed.

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.  Environmental science and ecosystems focus in 11th or 12th grade, advanced Biology and Environment focus in 11th or 12th grade, Environmental Earth science.

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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6. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
WESTEST	3-11	Yes

B. State High School Exit 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 state recommends a list of books for counties to choose from. If counties want to choose a different book, they request a waiver and propose a different book. The site will allow you to see the books that have been adopted by each county.
  
  Textbooks are considered to be resources. Teachers are encouraged to use multiple resources to teach the content of the CSOs. Example of resources can be found on the Teach21 site, click the Curriculum link, a textbox will indicate links for Instructional Guides, Units, or Problem Based Learning lessons, etc.
  
  
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: See above.
• Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: This is an elective course that the state does not provide objectives for , objectives can be written and approved on a local level if the course will be taught in that area.
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level: Not applicable- Coordinated and Thematic (general) Science is taught in grades K-8.

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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
N/A	N/A	499	N/A	405

Students Graduating with a Bachelor's Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
112	21	1,787	1,920	240

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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
15	8	401	424	129

Students Graduating with a Doctorate Degree

Physical Sciences	Geosciences	Life Sciences	Natural and Physical Sciences	Science and Engineering Technologies
8	1	107	116	N/A

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10. State Contact Person

Robin Anglin	Science Coordinator
Office of Instructional Services Building 6, Room 330 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East Charleston, WV25305-0330	ranglin@access.k12.wv.us 304-558-8098 ext. 53007
West Virginia Department of Education

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