Now Available: A Framework for K-12 Science Education
	A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas was released by the National Research Council (NRC) in July 2011.  The framework identifies the key scientific ideas and practices all students should learn by the end of high school.  It will serve as the foundation for new K-12 science education standards, which will be developed by a group of states to replace standards issued more than a decade ago.  The framework is also designed to be useful for curriculum and assessment designers, teacher educators, and others who work in K-12 science education.
	To learn more about the NRC framework:
	• Order a copy or download a free PDF of the report that presents the framework.
	• Download or read the report brief, which gives an overview of the framework.
	• See Frequently Asked Questions about the framework.
	• View a video or photos of a July 2011 public briefing held to release the framework.
	• Join the mailing list to receive future information and project updates.
States and education groups have begun work to implement the framework.  A group of states coordinated by nonprofit organization Achieve Inc. is developing Next Generation Science Standards based on the framework.  Information about that process is available at Achieve’s website.
In addition, the National Science Teachers Association has hosted two web seminars on the framework, featuring members of the NRC committee that developed it.  Archived versions are available online:
	• October 2011 web seminar: Making the Transition to Science and Engineering Practices: Visiting the Potential of the Next Generation Science Standards with NRC committee member Brian Reiser, NSTA Executive Director Francis Eberle, and former NSTA president Harold Pratt.
	• July 2011 web seminar: A Framework for K-12 Science Education with NRC committee chair Helen Quinn, committee member Brett Moulding, and study director Tom Keller.

COMMITTEE
Committee Membership
Design Team Members
STAFF
Heidi Schweingruber, Deputy Director, BOSE Thomas Keller, Senior Program Officer Rebecca Krone, Program Associate