If the assessment system at the school and district levels does not reflect the Standards and measure what is valued, the likelihood of reform is greatly diminished. Within the science program, the alignment of assessment with curriculum and teaching is one of the most critical pieces of science education reform. There are many ways to teach science effectively while adhering to the basic tenets of the National Science Education Standards, but they must be consistent with the goals and framework of the district.ДЄSSESSMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES SHOULD BE ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS, STUDENT EXPECTATIONS, AND CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS. The program standards do not prescribe specific teaching behaviors, nor should district or school policies. TEACHING PRACTICES NEED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS. The framework guides the students as they move through their schooling. Using the framework, teachers design instruction that is based on the prior experiences of students but avoids unnecessary repetition.

By specifying the sequence of topics in the curriculum, the guide ensures articulation and coherence across the curriculum. Teachers use the guide as they select and design specific school and classroom work. The curriculum framework provides a guide for moving the vision presented in the goals closer to reality. The goals for a science program provide the statements of philosophy and the vision that drive the program and the statements of purpose that the program is designed to achieve.Д¬URRICULUM FRAMEWORKS SHOULD BE USED TO GUIDE THE SELECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNITS AND COURSES OF STUDY. A science program begins with the goals and expectations for student achievement it also includes the selection and organization of science content into curriculum frameworks, ways of teaching, and assessment strategies. IN AN EFFECTIVE SCIENCE PROGRAM, A SET OF CLEAR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS MUST BE USED TO GUIDE THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ASSESSMENT OF ALL ELEMENTS OF THE SCIENCE PROGRAM. Responsibility needs to be clearly defined for determining, supporting, maintaining, and upgrading all elements of the science program.

Support systems and formal and informal expectations of teachers must be aligned with the goals, student expectations and curriculum frameworks. Teaching practices need to be consistent with the goals and curriculum frameworks.ДЄssessment policies and practices should be aligned with the goals, student expectations, and curriculum frameworks. In an effective science program, a set of clear goals and expectations for students must be used to guide the design, implementation, and assessment of all elements of the science program.Д¬urriculum frameworks should be used to guide the selection and development of units and courses of study. All elements of the K-12 science program must be consistent with the other National Science Education Standards and with one another and developed within and across grade levels to meet a clearly stated set of goals.

Sci-e program