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As the 2011 legislative session approaches, the Legislative and Government Relations Committee of the MnSTA board wants to be proactive in planning for next year’s session.

Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey so that MnSTA can accurately represent its membership on these issues.

Please Note: The statements below DO NOT necessarily represent the views of MnSTA or the Legislative Committee. We are trying to obtain membership opinion on each item.

Which of the following are roles that fit you? (choose all that apply)
 Elementary classroom teacher  
 Elementary science specialist  
 Elementary school science coordinator/coach/administrator  
 Middle school physical science teacher  
 Middle school life science teacher  
 Middle school earth science teacher  
 High school physical science teacher  
 High school life science teacher  
 High school earth science teacher  
 Secondary school science coordinator/coach/administrator  
 College faculty  
 Other:  

In which part of the state do you work
 Twin Cities urban
 Twin Cities suburban
 Northwestern
 Northeastern
 Southwestern
 Southeastern
 Central

Other Potential Areas for Policy and Advocacy...Please read and rate your level of agreement with each of the following statements. Feel free to select “No opinion” if you feel you have insufficient information to give an opinion.

Minnesota should require that science teachers who are adding a 9-12 teaching license in an additional science content area must . . .

a. Pass the science content test only and must have at least three years of teaching experience (current statute).
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

b. Pass the science content test plus receive instruction in the pedagogy and safety in the new content area.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

c. Pass the science content test plus receive training and instruction in safety procedures of the new content area.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

d. Pass the content test plus receive instruction in both the pedagogy and safety in the new content area.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

Minnesota should...

a. Require that people in alternative licensure programs must pass the science content test plus meet the science licensure standards for content and pedagogy
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

b. Establish a 7-12 General Science license.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

c. Reduce the rigor of the science licensure standards.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

d. Simply the portfolio process for adding an additional science license.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

Please add any comments you may have regarding science licensure:

Statewide Student Assessment

a. The high school MCA state science assessment should include all areas of the science standards, including physical science and earth science (currently it addresses life science and the Nature of Science and Engineering only).
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

b. The high school state science assessment should be a series of separate biology, chemistry, physics and earth science tests administered after the student completes coursework in these disciplines.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

c. MCA science scores should be part of the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) measures, similar to math and reading.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

d. Passing the MCA science exams should be a graduation requirement.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

Please add any comments you may have regarding state science testing

Lab Safety

a. Establish a maximum limit for the number of students that can participate in a science lab at any one time.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

b. Establish a maximum limit for the number of students enrolled in a science class.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

c. Require that teachers of science participate in annual training/review in laboratory safety procedures.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

d. Establish and enforce minimum safety requirements for laboratory facilities that meet national codes.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

Please add any comments you may have regarding science laboratory facilities and safety

Graduation Requirements

a. Rescind the graduation requirement that all students in the class of 2015 and beyond be required to earn one credit in chemistry or physics.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

b. Amend the graduation requirement to require both chemistry and physics.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

c. Amend the graduation requirement to require that students earn one credit in earth science.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

d. Amend the graduation requirements to allow an agriculture science class to replace the one credit biology requirement if the class is based on the current biology standards.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

7. Current statutes require that all students in the class of 2015 and beyond are required to take a chemistry or physics course in order to graduate. Minnesota should . . .

Please add any comments you may have regarding science graduation requirements

Science Instructional Time

Minnesota should require a minimum amount of time for science instruction at all levels K-12.
 Strongly Agree
 Agree
 Disagree
 Strongly Disagree
 No Opinion

Please add any comments you may have regarding instructional time for science.

Please add any other science teaching issues you feel the MnSTA Legislative Committee could or should address.

What qualities do you feel make a 'highly qualified' science teacher?

Please comment here on what you feel are the most important issues (of those presented above or others) facing Minnesota science teachers and teaching.