Anti-science bills in 2014 Oklahoma Legislature
Action alert: HB 3399, the measure to repeal the Common Core State Standards, contains a section that gives the legislature the ability to accept, reject, or edit any part of any curriculum standards submitted.
An editorial in the Oklahoman addresses HB 3399 that, among other things, would deny Common Core. The item states “this is the latest, and goofiest, development to come out of our efforts to repeal Common Core standards in Oklahoma.” […] “However, the legislation exempts adoption of those academic from the state’s Administrative Procedures Act. That law allows legislative review of agency rules, but typically requires lawmakers to simply accept or reject rules.”[…]
“In short, the State Board of Education can develop new standards with the input of experts, parents and other affected groups — but then state lawmakers can arbitrarily and unilaterally rewrite those standards at will.” […] While state lawmakers may know how to define critical thinking, the provisions of this bill suggest they don’t know how to use it. Gov. Mary Fallin should veto the legislation.”
Emails should now be sent to the Governor encouraging her to veto HB 3399. Many such messages may help her decide to do the best for state teaching standards! Click on this link to help education in Oklahoma.
OESE and OSTA Press Release in response to Senators Sykes and Brecheen
Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education
Oklahoma Science Teachers Association
Press Release
For Immediate Release: May 28th, 2014
Science Advocacy Groups Respond to Recent Statements from Senators Sykes and Brecheen.
In a May 23rd Press Release, Senator Anthony Sykes (R-Moore) and Senator Josh Brecheen (R-Coalgate) extol the virtues of House Bill 3399, which repeals the Oklahoma Academic Standards for English/Language Arts and math, which are based on the Common Core State Standards. Besides containing a number of factual errors the release also raises a number of questions concerning the new Oklahoma Academic Skills for Science that Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education (OESE) and the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association (OSTA) cannot allow to go unaddressed.
Are Oklahoma’s science standards the product of federal government and out-of-state interest groups?
The Oklahoma Academic Skills for Science (OASS) were developed by a committee of more than 50 Oklahoma science educators, scientists, engineers, business professionals and laypersons in a process that took over a year to complete. The process included a system of review and content vetting that involved an additional 450 people from school systems, universities, business organizations, and industry.
Did the group that created the standards base their work on Next Generation Science Standards?
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) served as a model for the new OASS, but for good reason. NGSS is the product of a five-year, privately produced effort to bring the best of what is known about high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education together in one document for the voluntary use by states to improve science instruction and scientific understanding. They were developed to be 21st Century standards for 21st Century science students. NGSS is not a federal program and many states are actively engaged in adopting them in total, including our neighboring state of Kansas.
Will going back to previous Oklahoma science standards mean going back to standards created by Oklahomans for Oklahomans?
Previous versions of the Oklahoma Science Standards were also heavily influence by the national standards projects of their time. The science Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) were based on the 1990’s production of Science for All Americans from the American Academy for the Advancement of Science and the National Research Council’s National Science Standards. When writing science standards, PASS authors would have been negligent to not use these tools when trying to define what is best for Oklahoma science students.
Does OASS heavily promote global warming alarmism, as has been argued?
OASS standards contain very little in the way of standards about climate or climate change and certainly nothing that could be construed to promote global warming alarmism. The mechanisms of climate and weather are the focus of the OASS discussion and the understanding of those mechanisms are derived through data. The OASS writing team and subsequent advisory panels went to great lengths to insure the standards were free of politicization. Global Climate Change itself is not an area of study in upper grades of the Oklahoma Academic Skills for Science and lower grades concentrate on developing understandings of weather and it’s relationship within climate.
It’s been said the rejected science standards did not prepare students for work in STEM fields. Is that true?
Engineering design and STEM integration is a major theme throughout the OASS standards and an attractive feature that sets the stage for the possibility of someday developing quality STEM integration program for children across the state of Oklahoma.
As organizations dedicated to advancing the cause of quality science education, OSTA and OESE believe that well designed standards are the starting point for building rigorous and demanding science curriculum and instruction. The new Oklahoma Academic Skills for Science certainly fit these criteria. We invite Senator Sykes and Senator Brecheen to join us in developing the training and finding the resources to bring the vision of exceptional STEM curriculum and instruction to fruition for all Oklahoma children.
For more information contact:
Dr. Joseph Maness, OESE President, manessjoseph@gmail.com
Bob Melton, OSTA Communications Chair, bmelton@oklahomascienceteachersassociation.org
Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, Inc. is a non-profit educational organization that promotes the education of the public about the methods and values of science and advocates excellence in the science curriculum. Activities include participation in educational and scientific organization conferences, workshops for science teachers, operation of a speakers’ bureau, and related activities. www.oklascience.org
The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association is the statewide professional association specifically addressing the interests and concerns of science teachers. OSTA is a state affiliate of the National Science Teachers Association
Updated Oklahoma Standards for Science upheld
After a frantic final day in the state legislature, the new Oklahoma Standards for Science are still in effect. HJR 1099 was not heard by the Senate Rules Committee and thus was not approved by the Senate. However, the rejection of the standards was added at the last minute to another HJR, 1097, that dealt with rules for the Oklahoma Health Authority. That bill was not heard in the House before it adjourned for the year.
Many thanks to all who contacted legislators and worked at the capitol with legislators and their assistants. NUMBERS DO COUNT.
See NCSE for additional details.
The story has received national attention from NCSE, Chris Mooney at Mother Jones, Climate Progress, Okie Funk, Daily Kos, The Verge, andHuffington Post and many others.
Moveon.org has a petition you can sign to support world class science standards for Oklahoma.