Dive Brief:
- The Wyoming Board of Education voted 10-1 to place a hold on the creation of new science standards until the state legislature removes a rule forbidding reference and use of the Next Generation Science Standards.
- The board is frustrated with how the Next Generation Science Standards moratorium came to be — in the footnotes of a budget approved in March.
- Wyoming students will use the state's 2008 science standards until a resolution happens.
Dive Insight:
The Next Generation Science Standards were recommended by 30 scientists before the last-minute rejection was voted in during the budget meeting. The reason? Disbelief in man-made climate change. What does Wyoming specialize in? Fossil fuel production, which is a contributor to man-made climate change. The idea that commerce is coming before a solid education is really frightening. Its good to see the Wyoming Board of Education pushing back against the sneaky way the Next Generation Science Standards were pushed out.