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Science is added as a course in a public British School
WIlliam Sharp was the first public science teacher and created a method for teaching science curriculum in all public schools in England. -
National Education Association Committe of Ten Conference
During these Conferences, a committee of ten male educators met to discuss curriculum for schools. Science was discussed and it was decided that some science education was necessary but no in depth study should be taught across the board but instead saved for those students preparing for college level work. -
Scopes Trial
The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes was a trial regarding the teaching of Evolution to students in public school. There was a law in Tennessee outlawing the teaching of evolution in any publicly funded school. This was the first widely publicized clashing of the ideals of modern science with traditional religion. -
National Defense Education Act is Signed
This Act was spawned due to concern that the USSR was overtaking the US in science and technology. In response, this act was created to increase or begin funneling of funds to science education and research. Some estimates say nearly a billion dollars went towards science education and curriculum. -
Reagan's 1982 Fiscal Year Budget
This budget removed a lot of the funding to the National Science Foundation, including most, if not all, of the funding for science education. -
Challenger Explosion
The Challenger Explosion was especially notable as an educator was on board. This effiectively ended the NASA "Teacher in Space" program. -
National Science Education Standards
These standards were put forth as guidelines for science curriculum and for teacher education in science. -
No Child Left Behind Signed
NCLB had many rippling effects on the education system including a complete shift of focus away from science and the arts. Instead, educators focused in on reading and math to boost test scores. -
America COMPETES Act Signed
This act was created to make America more competitive in an ever advancing technologically focused global society. It focuses on a number of ways to increase STEM education from AP/IB courses, creating more STEM educator programs, and a panel to judge effective teaching strategies for STEM concepts. -
Next Generation Science Standards Released
These multi-state standards were developed to help develop a common, thorough, rigorous set of science benchmarks. This includes a less broad approach to teaching science, and a more in depth focused science curriculum.