REVISE SCIENCE CONTENT STANDARDS:

EVALUATION OF GLOBAL WARMING & EVOLUTION

House Bill 5251

Sponsor:  Rep. John Moolenaar

Committee:  Education

Complete to 5-6-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5251 AS INTRODUCED 9-29-05

House Bill 5251 would amend the Revised School Code to require the State Board of Education to revise the model core academic curriculum content standards for science.

Under the bill, not later than August 1, 2006, the state board would be required to revise the recommended model core academic curriculum content standards in science to ensure that students would be able to do all of the following:

** Use the scientific method to critically evaluate scientific theories, including, but not limited to, the theories of global warming and evolution; and

** Use relevant scientific data to assess the validity of those theories and to formulate arguments for or against those theories.

MCL 380.1278

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would create additional administrative costs for the Department of Education for the revision of science curriculum content standards.  It also would create new costs for school districts which did not previously include the theories of evolution and global warming in their curricula.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mary Ann Cleary

                                                                                                                           Bethany Wicksall

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.