RAPID CITY, SD (KELO) — Discussions about science in K-12 South Dakota public schools must be evidence-based.
That’s the direction the State Board of Education Standards officially wants public school teachers to take.
Board members reached that conclusion Monday after a fourth public hearing.
However, several Rapid City residents, such as science teacher Lyle Harris and former Rapid City School Board member Brian Johnson, suggested during the public hearing that a revised set of academic content standards for science should also reflect intelligent design and creationism.
Johnson also said students should be allowed to openly express their views during classroom discussions.
Their comments prompted the state board to debate for some time whether the revised standards should include those perspectives and whether to delay adoption of the proposed changes.
The state board’s president, Steve Perkins of Sioux Falls, also suggested that state board members might be more involved in the future when academic standards are revised.
However, the board ultimately adopted the changes proposed by the Science Standards Advisory Committee.
That unanimous decision came after state Education Secretary Joe Graves and one of his department’s directors, Shannon Malone, told the state board that different perspectives could be included in a list of additional science materials teachers could consider using in their classrooms.
Governor Christy Noem appointed Graves on January 3, 2023 to oversee the state Department of Education. Graves was superintendent of Mitchell schools. He was one of 19 members of the Scientific Standards Committee.
Governor Noem previously appointed Richard Meyer of Rapid City to the state board. He asked Monday if waiting to approve the science standards until the board’s May meeting meant the board would have to hold another round of public hearings.
State law requires the board to hold at least four public hearings in Aberdeen, Pierre, Sioux Falls and Rapid City before adopting any academic content standards.
“You wouldn’t, because you’ve already gone through the four hearings,” Graves replied to Meyer.
Graves said there could be an additional hearing if the board wants to make changes that reach that level, but suggested the selection of additional materials could reflect those.
Perkins said, “The only way standards are going to change is if we accept them.” He added, “The words we accept are the words that are going to be out there.” He also said, “I think this is a great experience for us here.”
Board member Phyllis Heineman of Sioux Falls said the science committee likely had “a lot of discussions” and the proposal reflects them. She said the additional materials could convey public comments.
Typically, the state department of education goes through a revision of the standards for each subject area every five to seven years. Last year, at the governor’s direction, the state board adopted a set of social studies standards despite public opposition from the South Dakota Associated School Boards, South Dakota School Administrators and the teacher-oriented South Dakota Education Association.
On Monday, Perkins said the process of revising the science standards could begin at any time. Graves disagreed. “It’s rarely done, but it can be started,” Graves said.
Perkins noted that the board may take action sooner than planned. “I think that’s also comforting to me looking at this proposal because we’ve put our thoughts out there,” Perkins said.
Board member Linda Olsen of Dupree, a longtime teacher, said department staff can reflect perspectives in translating the standards for use in the classroom. “As an educator, I have found the unpacked standards to be very helpful,” she said. When Meyers questioned her, Olsen said she supported the proposed science standards.
The board also revised the existing standards for the Government and Public Administration cluster into one part of the Career and Technical Education academic content. No public comment was offered Monday.
