[Scico-list] SPEAK Act

[John Sepich]

Colleagues:

Below is an interesting bill be proposed in Congress. Colorado Science Standards may go by the wayside.

John

The Standards to Provide Educational Achievement for Kids Act (SPEAK) 
Act

The SPEAK Act proposes nationwide, voluntary science and mathematics
content standards. States that adopt these standards would be eligible 
to
receive federal funds for implementation and to enhance data systems
related to No Child Left Behind goals. The standards would be developed 
by
the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), with public input.

Specifically, the Act proposes national content standards in science 
and
mathematics in order to:

   ensure that all American students are given the same opportunity to
   learn to a high standard no matter where they reside.
   allow for meaningful comparisons of student academic achievement 
across
   states.
   ensure American students are academically qualified to enter 
college, or
   training for the civilian or military workforce.
   ensure that students are better prepared for the global marketplace 
and,
   consequently, maintain America's competitive edge.

The SPEAK Act authors are Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Representative
Vernon Ehlers (R-MI). Senator Dodd's Prepared Remarks at the Launch of 
the
SPEAK Act are available at 
http://dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3699,
and both a summary of the act and the full bill text are available from 
The
New America Foundation at
http://www.newamerica.net/events/2007/preparing_u_s_students_for_the_global_
economy
.









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