There are many similarities between the two courses, including some of the Earth Science and all of the inquiry standards. The change is intended to improve the achievement of FUSD students in science. It is hopeful that through this change a more consistant standards-based course offering can be realized for all 9th grade students across the district. This has not been the case to date. Another reality of the course taking experience for students is the status of UC eligibility.
Accountability is a reality.
The Science Augmented Assessments will eventually become part of a school sites API, and further restructuring of the SAT series will align the assessments to the California Science Content Standards as part of legislation that is pending. This same legislation, AB 233, will add a science assessment at either grade 5 or 8 to be included in the STAR beginning in Spring 2002. Earth Science is an integrated science course and will be delivered as part of a standards-based scope and sequence of course offerings. There are many similarities between the two courses, including some of the Earth Science and all of the inquiry standards. The change is intended to improve the achievement of FUSD students in science.