Date: January 24th, 2019
Agency: CT, State
Explanation: Interference with Education
Scientist: Climate, Other
On January 24, 2019, a bill (House Bill 5992) was introduced in the Connecticut legislature that would, if enacted, “prohibit the [State] Department of Education from utilizing and adopting the Next Generation Science Standards” (NGSS). The NGSS were developed by a consortium of 26 states, in collaboration with various education groups, and are widely considered to reflect the “best practice” for science education. The Connecticut State Department of Education approved use of the NGSS in November 2015. House Bill 5992 would, if enacted, reverse the Department’s decision and “requir[e] the use of those standards utilized prior to” approval of the NGSS. This appears to be intended to restrict the teaching of climate change which the bill’s sponsor, Representative John Piscopo, has previously said is a “controversial” subject that should not be taught in Connecticut schools.