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1. Certification Requirements
A. Grades 9-12
- Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science: 859
- Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment: 18
- Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification: 67%
- Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers: 31 hours in each content area of certification with specific courses required within most areas
B. Grades 6-8
- Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science: 462
- Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments: 561
- Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science: 92%
- Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers: 19 hours in each content focus area with specific courses required within most areas
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2. Course Requirements
A. Grades 9-12
- Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 4 science credits are required for the regular diploma. With parental consent, after grade 10, students may opt out of the recommended graduation requirements (Core Four) and meet only basic requirements of 3 sciences and social studies to receive a diploma showing that they met minimal requirements.
- Required science courses: 1 unit of biology, one unit from the physical sciences, + two of student choice for a total of four courses.
- Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes.
- Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? It is integrated in the ninth grade Physical Science course as well as the Biology I course, so that students will receive instruction in the basic ES concepts even if they choose not to enroll in Earth Science or if it is not offered at their school.
- 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.
- Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Some of the Environmental science concepts overlap with Biology I and Earth Science courses, especially ecology concepts & and bio-geochemical cycles, but it is not cited as part of another course.
- 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? Full Year. At the 8th grade level.
- At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 8th.
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3. K-12 Enrollment
A. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses
|
Course |
Earth science |
Chemistry |
Biology |
Physics |
Percent |
4% |
59% |
95% |
22% |
B. Enrollment trends in Grade 9-12 Earth science
|
Year |
Percent |
Students |
1996-97 |
12% |
8,199 |
1997-98 |
11% |
7,205 |
1999-00 |
11% |
7,026 |
2003-04 |
4% |
Not Available |
C. Students in grades 7-8 enrolled in selected science courses
|
1999-2000 |
2003-2004 |
Course |
Students
(Percentage) |
Students
(Percentage) |
Earth Science |
21,794
(19%) |
Not Available
(16%) |
General Science |
11,471
(10%) |
Not Available |
Physical Science |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Life Science |
26,383
(23%) |
Not Available
(22%) |
Integrated or Coordinated Science |
9,177
(8%) |
Not Available
(13%) |
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4. K-12 Indicators
|
State |
National |
| Average Freshman Graduation Rate |
59.5% |
73.2% |
| College Enrollment Rate |
63.9% |
68.6% |
| AP Participation Rate |
8.4% |
25% |
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5. Science Standards
- Standards Publication: Louisiana Science Frameworks
- Year in which science standards were adopted: Framework – 1997; Grade-Level Expectations - 2005
- Are state standards determined at the district level? No
- When will the state standards be revised? 2009-10
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6. Testing and Assessment
A. State Science Tests
|
Test |
Grade Levels Tested: |
Earth Science Component on the Test? |
LEAP: Grade 4 |
1-4 |
Yes
Grade 3 – 20 %
Grade 5 – 22 %
|
LEAP: Grade 8 |
5-8 |
Gr. 4 - 17-20 %
Gr. 8 – 24% |
Graduation Exit Examination (GEE ) |
9- 11 |
Yes. 20% |
B. State High School Exit Exam
- Name of Exam: Graduation Exit Examination for the 21st Century
- Type of Test: Criterion Refrenced
- Does the exam have a science component? Yes.
- At what grade do students first take the exam? 11
- Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? Yes.
- Does the exam have an Earth science component? 17% of the Science GEE is on Earth and Space Science
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7. Textbook Adoptions
- Does the state select or recommend textbooks? Yes, Louisiana is an adoption state
- Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Glencoe - Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, & the Universe;
HRW – Modern Earth Science;
Its About Time – EarthComm (5 modules);
McDougal Litell – Earth Science
- Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Kendall Hunt – Global Science: Energy, Resources, Environment;
Thompson Learning - Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, & Solutions
- Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level: Delta Ed. - Earth History + Planetary Science;
Glencoe – Earth Science;
Holt – Holt Science & Technology Earth Science;
Its About Time – Investigating Earth Systems ( 9 modules);
Prentiss Hall - Earth Science
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8. State Contact Person
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