In September 2020, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education voted to adopt new Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, and Ecology. These proposed Science Standards largely adopted Next Generation Science Standards, which uses “Crosscutting Concepts” across four domains of science: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering Design.

Unfortunately, in the adoption of the Crosscutting Concepts laid out in the Next Generation Science Standards, the PA State Board of Education neglected to include previously-required curriculum based on: watersheds and wetlands, environmental health, environmental laws and regulations, threatened/endangered/extinct species, and agriculture.

There is no mention within the proposed objectives of learning about Pennsylvania’s streams, how they flow, what they contain, how they support life, or how humans can impact the quality of clean water in this state.

There is no mention of agriculture in the proposed Standards. With a state as influenced by agriculture as Pennsylvania, we expect to have middle and high school curriculum prioritize the importance of understanding our local food systems.

Many rural schools have a heavy emphasis on agriculture education through Future Farmers of America and 4H programs. Without agriculture objectives adopted into our Science Standards, schools lack the incentive to teach these critical issues, since they are not required for grade-level completion and graduation. According to the Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence, “Agriculture is a $135 billion industry facing an aging workforce.” In that case, why would we strip agriculture education from Pennsylvania schools?

The current set of standards was adopted in 2002. Understandably, the Science Standards need to be updated. However, leaving out curriculum based in Environment and Ecology will have a negative impact on our students’ understanding of the world they live in and how they navigate and interact with their surroundings.

This letter will be sent to the Pennsylvania Attorney General. Currently, the proposed Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, and Ecology are awaiting the Attorney General’s approval. If Attorney General Shapiro approves the Standards, a public comment period will open for community members to voice their concerns. If he denies the proposed Standards, the Standards will be sent back to the State Board of Education’s Content and Steering Committees for revision.