Next Generation Science Standards
Intermediate School Level

Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS, have been implemented at the intermediate school level. NGSS are a new set of science standards, adopted by the state of California in 2013, that focus on engaging students in the practices of science and engineering, such as designing solutions, carrying out investigations, and developing models to explain occurrences in the natural world.

California’s preferred model is the integrated model, and it was selected by PVPUSD for our intermediate school program. This means that students in grades 6-8 will learn about physical science, earth science, and life science concepts throughout each year as an integrated study. In years past, PVPUSD used the discipline-specific model in which students learned about one science subject per year: earth science in 6th grade, life science in 7th grade, and physical science in 8th grade.

The decision that was made involved the entire intermediate school team, including all science teachers at all three intermediate schools, grades 6-8. On May 13, 2020, the PVPUSD Board of Education approved the adoption of the FOSS science curriculum for grades 6-8 in compliance with Next Generation Science Standards for California public schools.

For access to the full text of the standards, please visit https://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/ngssstandards.asp and scroll down to “Grades Six through Eight Standards.”

For information on  FOSS, visit:    https://www.deltaeducation.com/foss/next-generation