New science standards for Arkansas students for the first time include engineering courses beginning in kindergarten. High school students will also start learning earth science statewide.
The State Board of Education last week approved the new K-4 and 5-8 science standards districts will use to design curriculum. Michele Snyder with the Arkansas Department of Education says the state hadn’t updated science standards for a decade.
“These standards really are a much more current, if you will, applicable to real world, application for students,” said Snyder.
She said the standards are based on the latest research about cognitive development and will bolster efforts to develop Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) skills for related careers in the state.
“Arkansas can really be more competitive in the next 20 years if we begin to churn kids out who have this greater understanding of engineering and how it’s applied to science,” she said.
According to Snyder, teachers will be provided training in how to handle engineering curriculum they haven’t encountered before through higher educational instruction and professional development on the job.
The curriculum will be implemented at the lower levels beginning in August of 2016. The department is still developing science standards for the high school level. The latest updates will support other STEM training efforts in the state, including a new requirement for computer science courses for all high school students.
