In the early chapters of Science and Science Teaching, you read about the foundation of the standards movement-the drive to establish clear criteria for what students should know and be able to do as a result of their learning. By clicking on the links below, you can sample two of the most influential sets of science standards:

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). (1993).
Benchmarks for Science Literacy.
New York: Oxford University Press.
http://www.project2061.org/tools/benchol/bolframe.htm

National Research Council (NRC). (1996).
National Science Education Standards.
Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309053269/html/

In the field of technology, we have the National Educational Technology Standards, or NETS, which you can read at http://cnets.iste.org/ (2000). These standards were produced in 2000 by the International Society for Technology in Education, and they serve as guidelines for preparing technology-based activities for students. There are standards for students of grades kindergarten through 12 as well as standards for teachers.

In keeping with the national movement toward standards, individual states have established their own sets of standards, usually known as frameworks. You can find links to state frameworks at the following sites:

Carolina Biological Supply
http://www.carolina.com/general/company/state_standards.asp

Council of State Science Supervisors
http://csss.enc.org/frame.htm

Education World
http://www.education-world.com/standards/state/

In the past decade and a half, a number of other recommendations to reform, improve, and change science education have emerged. The links below will take you to several of these valuable documents.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1990)
Science for All Americans
New York: Oxford University Press
http://www.project2061.org/tools/sfaaol/sfaatoc.htm

Thomas B. Fordham Foundation (2000)
The State of State Standards 2000
Washington, DC: Author
http://www.fordhamfoundation.org/library/soss2000/2000soss.html

Thomas B. Fordham Foundation (1998)
State Science Standards: An Appraisal of Science Standards in 36 States, by Lawrence S. Lerner
Fordham Report, 2(4)
http://www.edexcellence.net/standards/science.html

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) (1995)
Assessment Standards for School Mathematics
Reston, VA: Author
http://standards.nctm.org/Previous/AssStds/

National Research Council (NRC) (2000)
Designing Mathematics or Science Curriculum Programs: A Guide for Using Mathematics and Science Education Standards
Washington, DC: National Academies Press
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309065275/html

National Research Council (NRC) (2000)
Global Perspectives for Local Action: Using TIMSS to Improve U.S. Mathematics and Science Education
Washington, DC: National Academies Press
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309065305/html

National Research Council (NRC) (2000)
Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: A Guide for Teaching and Learning
Washington, DC: National Academies Press
http://books.nap.edu/books/0309064767/html