National Research Council Releases A Framework for K–12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas

The National Research Council (NRC) today released its much anticipated report that presents a new framework for K–12 science education and identifies the key concepts and practices that all students should learn. A Framework for K–12 Science Education offers a new vision for K–12 education in science and engineering, and represents a significant shift in how these subjects are viewed and taught.

According to the report, "K–12 science and engineering education should focus on a limited number of disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts, be designed so that students continually build on and revise their knowledge and abilities over multiple years, and support the integration of such knowledge and abilities with the practices needed to engage in scientific inquiry and engineering design."

The framework will serve as the basis for the Next Generation Science Standards, a state-led effort managed by Achieve, Inc. The framework will also inform the work of curriculum and assessment developers, researchers, teacher educators, and others.

• Read the full report A Framework for K–12 Science Education
• Read the NRC press release
• Read NSTA press statement on the framework
• Read the Education Week article on the release of the NRC framework

For a report brief, Q&A, and additional information, click here.

NSTA and the National Research Council will present a web seminar on Tuesday, July 26, at 6:30 p.m. to explore major new components of the framework. The web seminar is free and open to all. The web seminar will also be archived and accessible after the event.

For updates, resources, and insights on the conceptual framework, as well as the work surrounding new science standards, visit the dedicated NSTA web page—Next Generation Science Standards.