Kentucky Academic Standards for Science
In a world that is becoming increasingly complex, it is important that students have the knowledge and understanding to engage in public discussions around issues infused in science. The Framework for K-12 Science Education outlines three dimensions that, when used together, support students’ deep understanding of the sciences, how science knowledge is acquired and understood and how the sciences are all connected through concepts that have a common application across the disciplines.
Promoting scientific literacy in an equitable and quality manner for all students is an ideal worthy of focused attention and continued effort. Equitable access to high-quality educational standards provides common expectations for all students and equips students with the strong science-based skills, including critical thinking and inquiry-based problem-solving, to be scientifically literate and succeed in college, careers and citizenship.
Engineering is taking science and applying it to create solutions that benefit society and the environment. The Kentucky Academic Standards for Science represents a commitment to integrate engineering thinking through engineering design practices into the structure of science education from kindergarten through grade 12 by raising engineering design thinking to the same level as scientific inquiry when teaching science disciplines. Providing all students with a foundation in engineering design allows them to better engage in and aspire to solve major societal and environmental challenges they will face in the decades ahead and to engage in public discussions on science-related issues related to their everyday lives.
Announcements
Revised Kentucky Academic Standards for Science Adopted For 2023-24 School Year
After undergoing a rigorous revision process that began in January 2021, revised standards for science have been adopted into law.
The process included revisions by Kentucky educators and community members, public input and review by the Kentucky Board of Education before undergoing final legislative review and adoption.
The newly adopted standards will be implemented in Kentucky classrooms beginning in the 2023-2024 school year and can be accessed on KYstandards.org. A Getting to Know Your KAS for Science module is also available on KYstandards.org on the Science Professional Learning Modules page found under Science Standards Resources to support educators in the implementation of the revised science standards.
Senate Bill 1 (2017) calls for the Kentucky Department of Education to implement a process for reviewing all academic standards and aligned assessments beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. This process began for science in January 2021. For more information regarding the standards revision process, please visit the Kentucky Academic Standards Revision Process webpage.
Assessment Information
For information on testing, visit the Office of Assessment and Accountability’s Assessment webpage. Assessment inquires may be directed to dacinfo@education.ky.gov.
Stay Connected
Kentucky Teacher: Click to access the science section of Kentucky Teacher, a publication of the Kentucky Department of Education.
Listservs: Click to subscribe to listservs, such as KYK12SCI, for information about the social studies community.