First of all, I would like to take a moment to thank all of our incredible EEANM members. Your memberships have allowed us to step up and offer this level of response. Our environmental education community has been elevated as a result of all that is going on and we appreciate all of you who support us through your memberships and donations. If you are interested in joining us or contributing your dollars to this effort, please visit our secure site at https://eenm.org/join/. Th
February 15, 2018 Update
EEANM staff attended a partner meeting of the Math and Science Bureau of the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) to learn more about the NM STEM Ready! standards on Monday, February 12, 2018. We were reminded that the NM STEM Ready! standards include NGSS in full plus six New Mexico-centric standards. NMPED shared that the implementation timeline will become more detailed as they review the readiness inventory that was distributed to school districts along with the two working groups (one to design a framework for New Mexico-centric standards and one on middle and high school course mapping). NMPED clarified that school districts will have the responsibility to take the lead on implementation including professional development for teachers, with NMPED playing a supporting role. Math and Science Bureau staff are in conversation with other states to learn about successes and challenges with implementation elsewhere.
Here is a link to the NM STEM Ready! page on the NMPED website: http://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/math-science/nm-stem-ready-science/
November 14, 2017 Update
The final rule to adopt the NM STEM-Ready standards was published today here: http://164.64.110.239/nmregister/xxviii/xxviii21/6.29.10.htm. There is now a new page available on the NM PED website specific to NM STEM Ready science: http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/NMSTEMReadyScience.html including a link to the New Mexico specific standards: http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/MathandScienceDocs/NM%20Companion.pdf.
October 25, 2017 Update
It is our pleasure to share that the Albuquerque Journal has posted the following article announcing the Public Education Department’s announcement to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards “in their entirety”:
October 20, 2017 Update
Great synopsis from the New York Times on what has been occurring this week including a mention of EEANM: https://nyti.ms/2gUVke3
October 19, 2017 Update
EEANM has compiled a quick analysis of where the proposed NM STEM Ready standards sit today with the changes announced 10/17/17 and 10/18/17 compared with original NGSS language: EEANMAnalysisNMSTEMReady101817vsNGSS
This analysis is what was used in issuing our draft statement last evening.
October 18, 2017 Update (added at 10:10 p.m. MDT):
EEANM received the following letter this evening from the NM Public Education Department: STEM_Ready Collaboration_Responding To Your Input and issues the following statement in response:
“After reviewing the revisions to the proposed NM STEM-Ready standards released last evening (10/17/17) along with the letter the Environmental Education Association of New Mexico (EEANM) received this evening (10/18/17), we believe that the New Mexico Public Education Department (NM PED) has listened to and addressed many of the concerns voiced by EEANM as outlined in our letter approved by our Board of Directors of October 13, 2017. We are excited to see NM PED include the science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas, all valuable pieces to the Next Generation Science Standards as outlined in the October 18th letter we received. Additionally, we praise NM PED in addressing funding and the development of a timeline for full implementation of the NM STEM-Ready Standards. We believe that our environmental education community is a vital asset to our state’s education system; EEANM and its organizational partners are ready and willing to support the implementation of Next Generation Science Standards statewide through professional development of teachers and school administrators. We look forward to being part of the conversation for next steps.
Although all of the comments we submitted as a result of our statewide effort to crowdsource ideas and listen to feedback on these proposed standards have not been addressed, the revisions made in the last 48 hours by NM PED are a big step forward for our students, teachers, and communities.”
October 18, 2017 morning update:
Good morning EE community, the Public Education Department, just 24 hours after the public hearing on the proposed NM STEM-Ready standards, has announced that some of the proposed standards that had been revised from NGSS language will be going back to original NGSS language (including putting back in evolution, climate change, and the age of the Earth). We look forward to learning more about what changes the Public Education Department will make: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/state-to-rewrite-proposed-science-standards/article_2f89acb6-f0c8-56f7-929e-18c9554e9613.html
And one more article: http://nmpoliticalreport.com/635568/state-backs-off-controversial-science-standards/
October 13, 2017 Update: EEANM’s Final Response to the Proposed NM-STEM Ready Standards (as approved by EEANM’s Board of Directors on 10/13/17) which has been sent to NMPED:
EEANMCommentsonNMSTEMReadyStandards_FINALsigned
October 9, 2017 Update: EEANM’s Draft Response to the Proposed NM STEM-Ready Standards (currently being reviewed by EEANM’s Board Directors):
The following document is being made available as a draft (dated October 9, 2016) to New Mexico’s Environmental Education Community. Please feel free to copy any comments including the suggested revisions in drafting your own individual or group/organization/agency response: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SEShS7kdAE6sDRE8psqh4fUGzl7mKpL4fO_BQ6OLrOc/edit?usp=sharing
Reminder that written comments can be submitted in the following ways (taken from the NMPED site):
Public Comment. Interested parties may provide comment on the proposed repeal and replacement of this state rule at the public hearing or may submit written comments, or both, to Jamie Gonzales, Policy Division, New Mexico Public Education Department, Room 101, 300 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, or by electronic mail at rule.feedback@state.nm.us, or fax to (505) 827-6681. All written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (MDT) on the date of the public hearing. The PED encourages the early submission of written comments. The public comment period is from September 12, 2017 to October 16, 2017 at 5 p.m. (MDT).
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In-person Community Meetings for our Environmental Education Community (classroom teachers, non-formal educators, school administrators, funders, and interested community members):
Albuquerque – Monday, October 2 at 4 p.m. at Bachechi Open Space (9521 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114) hosted by EEANM Staff and Board of Directors. Questions: info@eeanm.org
Las Cruces – Tuesday, October 3 at 4:30 p.m. at Asombro Institute for Science Education (401E. College Ave., Las Cruces) hosted by valued EEANM Organizational Member Asombro Institute for Science Education (http://asombro.org). Questions: ryan@asombro.org
Los Alamos – Wednesday, October 4 at 7 p.m. at Los Alamos Nature Center (2600 Canyon Rd, Los Alamos) hosted by valued EEANM Organizational Member Pajarito Environmental Education Center (http://peecnature.org). Questions: educator@peecnature.org
Community Meeting Information
EEANM’s Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Response Team (formed 9/12/17) has been in deep discussion of how to support our environmental education community in their understanding of the proposed rule to adopt New Mexico STEM-ready standards (Next Generation Science Standards with revisions-http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/PublicNotices.html). In addition, we would like to help prepare individuals and organizations/agencies in preparing their own comments to submit to the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) along with listening to our community to better inform EEANM’s written comments that will be submitted to NMPED.
In addition to the in-person community meeting opportunities listed above, EEANM will make our video presentation available for viewing on this page along with providing an opportunity to share your thoughts online. This page will be updated frequently as we work rapidly to respond.
These community meetings will serve two purposes:
1) Provide information on New Mexico STEM-Ready Science Standards (Next Generation Science Standards with revisions) along with context about the NMPED proposed rule change. We will explore what is being proposed and how it may affect environmental education. There will be information provided on how you can provide your own comments to NMPED through written comments or as part of the public hearing on October 16, 2017 (scroll down for more information).
2) Allow for a community conversation, using the lens of environmental education, to collect ideas and input for meaningful comments to NMPED. EEANM will be listening and compiling your feedback to better inform our written response; however, please note that we do not have the capacity to collect individual comments to NMPED, but will make all efforts to clearly define how individuals and organizations/agencies can submit their own feedback to NMPED.
During the week of October 2nd, there will be three in-person community meetings in Albuquerque, Las Cruces (thank you Asombro Institute for Science Education) and Los Alamos (thank you Pajarito Environmental Education Center for hosting!) Additionally, we will provide opportunities via this page to view the presentation online as well as submit your ideas online.
Viewing the Presentation and Providing Feedback to EEANM:
The link for a video of the presentation is available for viewing by clicking here .
To provide your ideas and feedback, please visit our draft letter to NMPED and read the directions at the top of the page for providing your ideas: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rPTryt95GcFXrjJ4-KFz_ctOMx7aEtFSIl_WAT3HGQY/edit?usp=sharing
What kind of feedback is EEANM’s NGSS Response Team looking for?
In October 2016, EEANM’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the following:
“As an Environmental Education Association of New Mexico Board member, I fully support the adoption of New Mexico of Next Generation Science Standards as they are written. We in the environmental education community along with the support of the Environmental Education Association of New Mexico are ready to support teachers and administrators in the implementation of Next Generation Science Standards through professional development statewide.”
As an organization, we fully stand behind the adoption of NGSS and look forward to the opportunity to work with the New Mexico Public Education Department to support teachers, school administrators, and school districts through professional development in the implementation of NGSS.
The proposed rule includes revisions to NGSS and we will be focusing on providing concrete, substantive feedback on these revisions. This will include addressing some of the wording that has been suggested to be removed along with providing language to improve the proposed additions, some of which are specific to New Mexico. EEANM will provide access to a draft document that we are currently working on to reflect the above so that you can provide your comments and ideas.
What about next steps and how can I comment?
On October 6th, EEANM will compile all ideas submitted to share with the community on this page. We will make all efforts to release a draft of the EEANM letter to NMPED on Monday, October 9 on this page. The content of this letter will be provided in a way that will allow individuals and organizations/agencies to pull language to use in a way that is representative of them. In other words, the compiled ideas/comments that we receive along with our response will be available for individuals and organizations/agencies to utilize in forming their own comments to NMPED.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Monday, October 2, 2017 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Community meeting at Bachechi Open Space with (presentation will be recorded and available on this page afterwards)
Tuesday, October 3, 2017 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Community meeting at Asombro Institute for Science Education in Las Cruces
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at 7 p.m. Community meeting at Los Alamos Nature Center
Monday, October 9, 2017 EEANM will release a draft letter compiling feedback from the community meeting that can be used for individuals and organizations to draft their own written response
Monday, October 16, 2017 – Written comments due and public hearing by NMPED (please see below)
Background Information
On Tuesday, September, 12, 2017, the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) announced a proposed rule change to adopt New Mexico STEM-Ready Science Standards (Next Generation Science Standards with revisions). In response, EEANM’s incredible Board of Directors has formed the NGSS Response Team to explore ways to support our EE community in understanding and responding to this proposed rule change. Below are some helpful links to help better understand the proposed rule change:
1) You can access the public notice directly via this site: http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/PublicNotices.html
2) Here is information about providing comments including the announcement of a public meeting in Santa Fe on Monday, October 16th from 9 a.m. to noon.:
Public Hearing. The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) gives notice that it will conduct a public hearing in Mabry Hall located at the Jerry Apodaca Education Building, 300 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, on Monday, October 16, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (MDT). The purpose of the public hearing is to receive public input on the proposed repeal of 6.29.10 NMAC – Science, to be replaced by 6.29.10 NMAC – New Mexico Stem-Ready Science Standards. At the hearing, the PED will provide a verbal summary statement on record. Attendees who wish to speak will be given three (3) minutes to make a statement concerning the rule changes on record. Written comment will also be accepted at the hearing.
Public Comment. Interested parties may provide comment on the proposed repeal and replacement of this state rule at the public hearing or may submit written comments, or both, to Jamie Gonzales, Policy Division, New Mexico Public Education Department, Room 101, 300 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, or by electronic mail at rule.feedback@state.nm.us, or fax to (505) 827-6681. All written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (MDT) on the date of the public hearing. The PED encourages the early submission of written comments. The public comment period is from September 12, 2017 to October 16, 2017 at 5 p.m. (MDT).
3) Thank you to EE champion and local NGSS expert, Selena Connealy, for providing the synthesis below of revised changes to NGSS in this proposed rule change. Our NGSS Response Team will be focusing on providing comments specific to these revisions and we will be providing opportunities for you to provide your perspective and thoughts on these.