In 2005, the state of Kansas received a great deal of national attention - most of it negative - as its board of education discussed whether to keep teaching the theory of evolution as a mandatory science requirement in public schools. But now, the board has announced that Kansas and 19 other states will lead an effort to produce the next generation of science standards for students all across the nation. Dana Tofig (DAY-nah TOE-figg) is a spokesperson for the nonprofit education group called Achieve.
Tofig says the national science standards will include principles of evolution, and will not include knowledge of creationism. Tofig says the state and others will assist in writing a framework for national science standards. That new framework will be designed to bring students in the United States up to competitive levels with science programs in other industrialized nations. The new standards are expected to be unveiled next year.