IF you’ll pardon me this moment of policy wonkery, but I don’t want readers thinking that just because I don’t like the way the NGA only included ACT and College Board insiders in a largely secret meeting on what looks to be national standards. I think that the NEA largely endorsing national standards is a great move. We need something to make education more unified in this country. I would go so far as to say we need natural standards for science as well.

What I think is necessary, however, is an open dialogue that includes FAR more than just people who make standardized tests. I still think people who do scientific work in the field who DON’T work for testing companies need to be included as do teachers representatives and other “stakeholders.”