Title Slide: Teaching Science in Florida
Understanding Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
PJ Duncan, Secondary Science Program Specialist
December 2017
Slide 2: Objectives
Understand that Florida adopted the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) for science in 2008 and the necessity for all lessons to be aligned to these standards.
Recognize the importance of accessing the course description and test item specifications when planning for instruction.
Slide 3: Science Standards
•	Now let’s talk about our standards. 	
Slide 4: Standards
•	Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
•	Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
•	Florida is NOT adopting new standards
•	Currently in the adoption year (17-18) for science instruction materials aligned to NGSSS
•	These materials will be used for the next five years, so the timeline for adopting new standards would be at least five years.
Slide 5: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – National Science Standards
•	18 states have adopted the national standards
•	Florida is not an NGSS state
•	Released to states in 2013
•	Many STEM lessons and products are aligned to NGSS which means careful consideration of standards alignment is crucial when lesson planning
•	When searching the internet for lessons great care must be taken for standards alignment to NGSSS
•	CPALMS lessons are vetted carefully for alignment www.CPALMS.org 
Slide 6: Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)
•	2008 - State Board of Education approves New Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
•	2012 – CPALMS provides lessons and resources aligned to standards
•	Statewide Science Assessment (SSA) Grades 5 and 8 is a cumulative exam 
•	Biology End-of-Course Assessment (EOC)
•	Test Item Specification documents 
•	Toolkits 

Slide 7: NGSSS vs. NGSS
•	NGSS covers fewer topics than NGSSS, but goes deeper into those topics
•	NGSSS covers more topics that NGSS, but does not goes as deep into each
•	No crosswalk between NGSS and our Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) is possible
Slide 8: Test Item Specifications
•	Provides clarity as to how the NGSSS standards will be assessed
•	Content clarifications and limits
•	Grade 05 SSA http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5682/urlt/0077913-fl09g5sci.pdf  
•	Grade 08 SSA http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5682/urlt/0077914-fl09g8sci.pdf  
•	Biology EOC http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5662/urlt/0077547-biologyfl11sp.pdf  
Slide 9: Toolkits  
•	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/toolkits/
•	Screenshot of toolkits page provided for clarity of how to access  
Slide 10: Course Descriptions
•	How do you access the standards for the course you teach?
Slide 11: Course Descriptions
•	Overview of course with related standards
•	Supported by curriculum maps/pacing guides in districts
•	Access course descriptions at www.CPALMS.org 
Slide 12: Screenshot of Course Descriptions on CPALMS
•	Please note the red arrow indicating course description tab
•	Follow prompts to access the course by grade level and content area
Slide 13: Biology 1
•	The biology course description has been provided for an example
•	85 standards are related to the course
•	Please note the resources icon indicates how many resources are aligned to this standard
•	The Courses icon indicates how many course description include this standard
•	Access this information for strategic lesson planning with teachers in your school
Slide 14: Questions??
•	Please visit our website at http://www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/subject-areas/math-science/science/ or email the content specialists below
•	Email PJ Duncan, Secondary Science Specialist Patricia.Duncan@fldoe.org
•	Email Alicia Foy, Elementary Science Specialist Alicia.Foy@fldoe.org
Slide 15: www.FLDOE.org
•	Thank you for your time as we work together to increase student achievement in science throughout the state of Florida.
•	Have a great day.