Bill Opposing the Next Generation Science Standards Introduced in Iowa

Bill Opposing the Next Generation Science Standards Introduced in Iowa

On February 12, 2018, a bill (House File 2317) was introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives to block implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The NGSS, which were developed by a consortium of 26 states, in collaboration with various education groups, are widely considered to reflect the “best practice” for science education.

The Iowa State Board of Education voted to adopt the NGSS on August 6, 2015. At that time, State Representative Sandy Salmon objected to the NGSS, in part because “woven throughout the standards are controversial topics of climate change, man’s negative impact on the environment, and evolution as a scientific fact.” Representative Salmon subsequently sought to block implementation of the NGSS. In February 2018, she introduced House File 2317 which would, if enacted, reverse the State Board of Education’s decision to adopt the NGSS, and reinstate the previous science education standards.