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1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science: 1,534
2. Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment: 171
3. Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification: 91%
4. Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers: Major/minor; specifies components in program.

B. Grades 6-8

1. Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science: 826
2. Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments: 1,081
3. Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science: 98%
4. Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers: Major/minor; specifies components in program.

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2. Course Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 3
2. Required science courses: 1 course in Biology is required.  By 2015 physics or chemistry will be required
3. Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? There is no required statewide curriculum, so the Earth science standards are required for all students 9-12, but how districts go about delivering those standards (integrated vs. a single course) is up to them to decide.
4. Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? Yes. Earth science can be part of an integrated science course
5. If Earth science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements?  Yes, it would count as one of the three required credits just like any science course.
6. Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Determined at the district level.
7. Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Determined at the district level.
8.  If Environmental science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements?   Determined at the district level. 

B. Grades 6-8

1. Is Earth Science part of the middle school science curriculum (grades 6-8)?  There is no required statewide curriculum, so the earth science standards are required for all students 6-8, but how districts go about delivering those standards (integrated vs. a single course) is up to them to decide. A typical sequence in middle school is 7th grade life science and 8th grade earth science.
2. Is it taught as a full year curriculum or an integrated curriculum? Determined at the district level. 
3. At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 8th.

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3. K-12 Enrollment

A. Percent of Grade 9-12 students enrolled in selected courses

Course	Earth science	Chemistry	Biology	Physics
Percent	14%	52%	95%	21%

B. Enrollment trends in Grade 9-12 Earth science

Year	Percent	Students
1996-97	10%	6,857
1997-98	7%	4,814
1999-00	10%	7,122
2003-04	14%	Not Available

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

	1999-2000	2003-2004
Course	Students (Percentage)	Students (Percentage)
Earth Science	35,756 (27%)	Not Available (29%)
General Science	Not Available	Not Available
Physical Science	15,891 (12%)	Not Available (7%)
Life Science	45,026 (34%)	Not Available (40%)
Integrated or Coordinated Science	Not Available	Not Available (4%)

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4. K-12 Indicators

	State	National
Average Freshman Graduation Rate	86.2%	73.2%
College Enrollment Rate	67.8%	68.6%
AP Participation Rate	22.5%	25%

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5. Science Standards

• Standards Publication: Minnesota Academic Standards
• Year in which science standards were adopted: 2009
• Are state standards determined at the district level?No
• When will the state standards be revised? Final draft of current revisions is to be completed in February 2009.

 

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6. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
MCA-II for grade 5	Standards for grades 3-5 covered	Yes
MCA-II for grade 8	Standards for grades 6-8 covered	Yes
MCA-II for high school	Life science and Histor and Nature of Science standards for 9-12 are covered	Yes

B. State High School Exit Exam

1. Name of Exam: No
2. Type of Test: N/A
3. Does the exam have a science component? No.
4. At what grade do students first take the exam? N/A
5. Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? N/A
6. Does the exam have an Earth science component? No.

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7. Textbook Adoptions

• Does the state select or recommend textbooks? No. 
• 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

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8. State Contact Person

Dawn Cameron	Science Assessment Specialist
Minnesota Department of Education 1500 Highway 36 West Roseville, MN  55113	dawn.cameron@state.mn.us 651-582-8551

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