Videos and links to presentations used as part of the roll out and implementation of the SC CCR Science Standards 2021 are found below.
Part 1 in this series of grade-level specific video PD focuses on unpacking one of the SC CCR Science Standards and brainstorm what each of the 3 dimensions of the science standard looks like when both teacher and students are fully engaged in it.
Part 2 in this series of grade-level specific video PD focuses on understanding what a storyline approach to unit planning looks like, how it works, and why it is effective at planning authentic, sense-making, phenomenon-focused science learning.
Part 3 in this series of grade-level specific video PD focuses on the content shifts that occur at each grade level with the 2021 SC CCR Science Standards and what essential knowledge teachers and students will need to know for each science unit.
Here is the link to the OFFICIAL NEW Science Standards on the SC Department of Education (SCDE) website.
Elementary Schools in Richland School District Two will continue to use the 2014 South Carolina Academic Standard and Performance Indicators for Science for the purposes of planning science units, daily lessons, and assessment for the 2021-2022.
This will give us time to make a smooth transition to the new standards without struggling with the disruption a sudden change in standards would ordinarily bring. The 2021-2022 school year will be used to roll out professional development focused on the structure and function of the new standard as well as the significant content shifts that occur across all K-5 grade levels. Additionally, this will allow us to prepare for the training and gradual implementation of a new science curriculum and new science instructional materials that we anticipate will roll out for the 2022-2023 school year. Full implementation and assessment of the SCCCR Science Standards will take place at the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
According the Office of Assessment at the SCDE, 4th grade will still be tested to the 2014 science standards during the 2021-2022 and the 2022-2023 school years. At present, the Office of Assessment says that spring of the 23-24 school year to be the first time students are assessed to the new standards on state tests.
At the start of the 2021-2022 school year, professional development will focus on the major structural differences in the new science standards, specifically on the 3D nature of these standards and on the inclusion of the Crosscutting Concepts as a major element within them. As the year progresses, the focus will move to the grade-level specific content shifts so that teachers are prepared to teach science concepts they may not have taught before. The SCDE will also be rolling out professional development in the coming year that we may want to take part in.
How your school decides to use their science refurbishment funds for the 2021-2022 school year will depend on the needs of your teachers and students. Schools that need supplies for the 2021-2022 school year will want to use their funds on materials that support the 2014 science standards. Schools that are well stocked for what they need for the coming year and want to look ahead to the 2022-2023 school year when we will fully implement the new standards will want to use the new standards to inform spending decisions. Also keep in mind that the district will adopt new science instructional materials that will be delivered and in place for the start of the 2022-2023 school year (assuming they are funded).
For the 2021-2022 school year we will continue to use the current science curriculum guide and accompanying instructional materials (Pearson SC Interactive Science Textbook and FOSS & DSM kits). During the coming year, I will begin building a framework for a new K-5 Science Curriculum Guide. This will provide a structure for a team of Richland 2 teachers next summer to fully develop an updated science curriculum site/guide that will incorporate newly adopted materials (see below), with best practices, guides, existing materials, lesson ideas, informational text resources, assessments, etc...
At present, teams working with the Office of Instructional Materials at the SCDE are reviewing publisher-submitted science instructional materials. From this work, approved options will be made available in the coming year for consideration by school districts. Caravan, review, vetting, and selection will take place in the spring of 2022. Assuming the state legislature adequately funds science instructional materials, these materials should be delivered sometime in late spring or summer 2022. Once our district adoption decision is made, these resources will be incorporated into the curriculum guide that will be developed during the summer of 2022. Professional development on the use of these new instructional materials will begin summer and fall of 2022.
I hope this answers your questions about the new science standards. If you have more questions, please contact Dr. Emmer (eemmer@richland2.org)
The following is the timeline for the implementation of the new science standards in Richland School District Two:
Summer 2021:
South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Science Standards 2021 approved by SBE and EOC.
K-5 Science Content Specialist (and Science Superhero) will begin creating profession development resources and opportunities for teachers.
PD focusing on the major structural changes in the new science standards will roll out as part of the Back to School Inservice.
2021-2021 School Year:
Elementary Science will continue to use the 2014 science standards to inform instructional decisions with regard to planning and assessment.
4th grade tested to the OLD science standards in spring 2022
Framework for a new K-5 Science Curriculum Guide will be developed with input from teachers.
Fall 2021:
Anytime-Anywhere Science PD focusing on the new standards will roll out on a new online platform.
In-person PD and PD available upon request will also focus on structural changes in the new standards.
Spring 2022:
PD will shift focus to the grade-level specific content shifts in grades K-5. PD will continue to be a blend of in-person and anytime-anywhere as well as scheduled upon request.
SCDE Instructional Materials Caravan will take place, followed by district review and vetting of approved science instructional materials. District adoption of new science instructional materials adopted will be based on the results of this review process.
Summer 2022:
The K-5 Science Curriculum Guide will be revised and updated to include the adopted science instructional materials as well as other instructional resources aligned to the new science standards.
Assuming the state legislature adequately funds them, delivery of new science instructional materials will take place.
PD on the use of the newly adopted science instructional materials will begin at the 2022 Back to School Inservice in August and will continue throughout the 2022-2023 school year.
2022-2023 School Year:
Measured implementation of the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Science Standards 2021 in grades K-3 and 5. 4th grade will continue to use the old 2014 science standards.
Supported implementation of newly adopted science instructional resources supported by ongoing PD throughout the year in grades K-3 and 5.
4th grade tested to the old science standards in spring 2023
2022-2023 School Year:
Full implementation of the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Science Standards 2021 in grades K-5.
Full implementation of newly adopted science instructional resources supported by ongoing PD throughout the year in grades K-5.
4th grade tested to the new SCCCR Science Standards 2021 in spring 2024
Note- this timeline is subject to change.
K-5 Science Standards 2014-2021 Comparison Chart
This document is a crosswalk that compares each K-5 science standard performance indicator from the 2014 science standards with the K-5 standards in the 2021 science standards. The document identifies which standards are congruent, which ones are added, which one are removed, and which ones are moved to a different elementary grade level, along with a brief description of any change in the scope of the science content in the standards.
This presentation provides an overview of the seven crosscutting concepts as well as a brief explanation of what our students should be doing in their science learning experiences to recognize and apply them and what teachers should be doing to support them.