Science education is central to the lives of all Americans. Students face a world where they will frequently be required to make important decisions on issues that range from health care to the environment. Achieving literacy in science will require coherence at all levels and across components of the system including curriculum, assessment, and…

The "Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)" for K-12 have three dimensions--science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts (NGSS Lead States 2013). "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" states, "Crosscutting concepts have value because they provide students with connections and…

English language learners (ELLs) bring a wealth of knowledge to science classrooms, yet often that knowledge is untapped by traditional instruction and assessment. As classrooms become increasingly diverse, it is critical to recognize the depth of understandings ELLs bring to classrooms to explain the scientific world around them. English language…