The National Science Education Standards were produced by the National Research Council in 1995 and published in 1996. The Standards were the result of four years of work by twenty-two scientific and science education societies and over 18,000 individual contributors. The National Science Teachers Association is now part of an ongoing effort to implement the Standards in classrooms throughout the country.

Unlike other documents, the Standards deal concurrently with six aspects of science education:

• Standards for science teaching (Chapter 3).
• Standards for professional development for teachers of science (Chapter 4).
• Standards for assessment in science education (Chapter 5).
• Standards for science content (Chapter 6).
• Standards for science education programs (Chapter 7).
• Standards for science education systems (Chapter 8).

Standards are not a curriculum. They are not a set of lesson plans. They are goals for achievement that are appropriate for all members of the science education community.

You can purchase a copy of the National Science Education Standards in NSTA's online Science Store.

Standards and You

How can you achieve the vision of the National Science Education Standards? NSTA offers many types of support:

• Taking your first steps toward the Standards? NSTA has some great books for you, whether you are elementary, middle, secondary or college level, in its Pathways series. Additional NSTA Press® books and other products in the NSTA Science Store highlight content areas and teaching strategies for kindergarten through college.
• Professional development takes on a new, broader definition under the Standards. The best program is the one that's just right for you. Take a look at the options in the NSTA Learning Center, including online offerings. Also check out the NSTA conferences—three area meetings and one national meeting every year.
• All of the NSTA journals are full of ideas on how to teach to the Standards.
• Looking for books and other materials? NSTA Recommends® has hundreds of reviews written by experienced classroom teachers.