California Regional Environmental
Education Community

California Department of Education,
STEM Office

Statewide Newsletter 
April 24, 2015 


Announcements

 

Development of a new Science Framework for implementing the California Next Generation Science Standards   

 

The proposed revised Science Framework schedule is posted at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/sc/cf/sciencefrmwrkevents.asp 

 

If the legislature and State Board of Education (SBE) approves the proposed schedule, then the State Board of Education might adopt IQC's recommended Science Framework in September 2016 [pending legislative change]. CDE is recommending partners wait until the SBE adopts the new Science Framework, which will include the criteria for evaluating instructional materials aligned to the CA NGSS, before revising their curriculum.

 

CAASPP History-Social Science Stakeholder Survey  

 

As stipulated in Education Code Section 60640 (c), the California Department of Education, in collaboration with Educational Testing Service, is gathering input from stakeholders regarding the possible inclusion of history-social science assessments as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) system. The input from stakeholders will be shared with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson as he prepares recommendations for the State Board of Education.

Professional Learning Opportunities

  

Register Now for the 2015 California STEM Symposium

 

October 28 - 30, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center

This year's Symposium strands include:

  • STEM Learning Across Disciplines
  • Diversity, Girls, and Inclusion in STEM
  • Business, Community, and Post-Secondary Partnerships
  • STEM in Out-of-School/Expanded Learning and Pathways
  • STEM and the Arts
  • Leadership in STEM

For more information on the Symposium including registration, please visit: http://www.cdefoundation.org/stemsymposium/

A downloadable Flyer is available on the website.

 

For general questions related to Environmental Education, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math or STEM, please email: STEM@cde.ca.gov and you will receive a response from the appropriate CDE staff.

   

California Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) Professional Learning Opportunities  

 

Science teachers can take advantage of professional learning opportunities to prepare them for implementing California's new science standards through the Next Generation Standards Symposium Awareness to Transition Rollout Trainings. More information about dates, locations, and registration can be found online at https://www.regonline.com/NGSS2015Training 

  

The Secondary Literacy Partnership                               

Content Literacy in History-Social Science Webinar Archive

 

In case you missed the March 25, 2015 live webinar, the SLP webinar archive for "Content Literacy in Secondary History-Social Science" is now available for viewing. This webinar showcased lesson activities from the California History-Social Science Project's History Blueprint curriculum for middle and high schools. This was the sixth and final webinar in the series, Implementing the Common Core State Standards: Classroom Connections. To view all SLP webinar archives from the last three years, visit the Secondary Literacy Partnership Vimeo Channel. 

 

North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)

 

October 14-15, 2015 Annual Research Symposium, October 15-18, 2015 Annual Conference

San Diego, CA

 

Inform environmental educators about proven practices, push the leading edge of the profession, and motivate the pursuit of excellence.

 

In an effort to broaden the base for environmental education, we strive to dedicate at least 15 percent of our concurrent sessions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in EE. 

More information available online at http://www.naaee.net/conference

 

Conference Strands: 

  • Conservation and Education
  • Environmental Education in Urban Settings
  • Inspiring Connections to the Outdoors
  • Research-Based Practice in EE
  • Teaching About Environmental Issues and Systems Thinking
  • Greening PreK-12, Higher Education, and Vocational Training 
Resources for California Educators

  

California Geographic Alliance and National Geographic

California's Water Crisis

 

National Geographic's online article "5 Things You Should Know about California's Water Crisis" at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150406-california-drought-snowpack-map-water-science/ includes sage information about the drought and an interactive graphic "Draining California" at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/west-snow-fail/draining-california/index.html that will help students understand how snowmelt feeds the Central Valley's agriculture.

 

Green Schoolyards America

 

Green Schoolyards America has put out a new guide of activities that can be done in the schoolyard. The guide is available online at http://www.greenschoolyardsamerica.org/2015-living-schoolyard-month-activity-guide.html 

 

Contests Available to Students in 2015

                                                            

Environment-related Contests for students are listed on the California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) website. For more information, please visit http://www.creec.org/news/128 

 

2015 Grants with Deadlines

 

Environment-related grants available to educators and students are listed on the CREEC website. For more information, please visit http://www.creec.org/grant_opps/79

 

Other News                        

 

The results of the California Coastal Commission's 2015 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest have been announced. 

 

To see all of the winners and honorable mentions, please visit http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/poster/mm15/gallery1-2015.html

 

PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES

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Disclaimer: These professional learning opportunities and resources are intended merely to provide access to information. The California Department of Education (CDE) has not reviewed these opportunities or resources for effectiveness or alignment with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). CDE does not warrant or guarantee the effectiveness or results of any opportunity or resource that may be made available through this communication network. The inclusion of an opportunity or resource is neither an endorsement nor recommendation by CDE. Please excuse formatting errors that may result from the software application used to distribute this newsletter.
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The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC) Network is an educational project supported by the California Department of Education in collaboration with state, regional and local partners. Its expansive communication network provides educators with access to high-quality educational resources to enhance the environmental literacy of California Students.

Shannon Gordon, Statewide CREEC Coordinator, sgordon@cde.ca.gov
STEM Office, California Dept. of Education, 1430 N Street, Suite 4309, Sacramento, CA 95814
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