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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: Requires a specific minimum number of units in the subject area taught; specifies components in 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: Requires a specific minimum number of units in the subject area taught; 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: 2.
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.
3. Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? No, but it is a part of the required standards for grades 9 and 10 so it is a part of most Physical Science classes.
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.
6. Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? No, school dependent with district approval.
7. Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? No, but it is a part of the required standards for grades 9 and 10 so it is a part of most Life Science classes.
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?  Both.  Mainly integrated.
3. At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 6th-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	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available

B. Enrollment trends in Grade 9-12 Earth science

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

C. 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
General Science	Not Available	Not Available
Physical Science	Not Available	Not Available
Life Science	Not Available	Not Available
Integrated or Coordinated Science	Not Available	Not Available

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4. K-12 Indicators

	State	National
Average Freshman Graduation Rate	72.9%	73.2%
College Enrollment Rate	48.7%	68.6%
AP Participation Rate	25%	25%

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5. Science Standards

• Standards Publication: Essential Academic Learning Requirements
• Year in which science standards were adopted: Original standards adopted in 1997; revised in 2005, 2008, 2009.
• Are state standards determined at the district level? Districts adopt the state standards.
• When will the state standards be revised?  Just revised in 2009

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6. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).	5, 8, and 10	Yes, included in all three grade levels-it is 33% of test that refers to specific science content

B. State High School Exit Exam

1. Name of Exam: Washington Assessment of Student Learning
2. Type of Test: Standards based
3. Does the exam have a science component? Yes.
4. At what grade do students first take the exam? 10
5. Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? Yes, for graduating class of 2013
6. Does the exam have an Earth science component? Yes.

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7. Textbook Adoptions

• Does the state select or recommend textbooks? They will in 2009.
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Yes
• Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level:  Yes
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level:  Yes

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8. State Contact Person

Peter Tamayo	Office of Superintendent Public Instruction
Office of Superintendent of Public Instrution Old Capitol Building P.O. Box 47200 Olympia, WA 98504-7200	peter.tamayo@k12.wa.us 360-725-6134

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