DeDelaware+Science+Standards+and+Assessment


 * Delaware Science Standards**

The science content standards are available at []
 * Standards**

Information about the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment Program is located at [] Both Formative and Summative assessment examples are provided for various grade levels.

• These take place at grade 4, 8, and 11. • The 11th grade exam is integrated and assesses all science standards. The 11th grade test does not prevent graduation. The intent was to make it mandatory for graduation but that has not happened yet. It is used more to judge the district’s program. Students do receive an individual score. • They are presently looking at on-line testing for all students. • They are also thinking of going to specific exams for each topic and plan to start with biology. This would replace the 11th grade exam. The rationale is to administer the assessment in 10th grade, not 9th. They want students to settle into a high school academic routine. However, they also want to get students before they can legally drop out of school. That is at age 16 in Delaware. • The feeling is that students really don’t remember material long term because they do not use it. There will be more assessments as soon as the funding is available. • The present curriculum consists of specific standards and content for each grade area. Specific units have been developed that teachers are obligated to teach. At the secondary level students take the following: - 9th grade: chemistry, physics, and earth science - 10th grade: all biology (evolution, genetics, chemistry of biology, etc.) - 11th grade: all chemistry (It was supposed to be chemistry and physics) - The assessment is administered at the end of May. Time is not taken from class. Different districts do it different ways. Usually review is held after school. It might be one day or one week. The assessment tests the standards and not the specifics of the required units. • If students don’t do well as a district the following happens: - Science – nothing - Math – students must come after school once a week - English – remediation must take place. Each district decides how best to do this. • Teachers wrote the curriculum. It is very dictated. Professional development is done around the units. To reiterate, the state assessment tests the standards, not the units. However, the units are based on the standards and teachers also wrote the standards. Higher education faculty and business representatives were also involved in the initial process. The science standards are undergoing review. Not as many people are involved this time around. The standards were revised 4 years ago primarily because people weren’t happy with some parts. There needed to be further clarification. The National Science Education Standards were used as a basis for the development of the Delaware Science Standards. • Historically Delaware has used a coalition system to develop its standards. The education department got together high-powered individuals from many walks of life. It is important to develop a coalition that understands what needs to be done and why. This went on for 20 years. A leader that understands the cause and knows the history is vital to the success of the process. Presently the coalition is not as strong because there are many new teachers and administrators who don’t know what they are doing or why they are doing it. 2015 Initiative • The 2015 Initiative started in Delaware has as its goal world-class students by the year 2015. Members of each district go to training together. Administrators are educated in how to more effectively administrate. They learn time management, values practice, and how to implement change. Some lead teachers also go. • The focus of the school is literacy. This doesn’t mean just reading. It includes problem solving, critical thinking, and inquiry in science.
 * Assessments**
 * Curriculum**