ALBUQUERQUE

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Ms. Jamie Gonzales

Policy Division, NM Public Education Department, Room 101
300 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Subject: 6.29.10 NMAC Science, to be replaced by 6.29.10 NMAC New Mexico STEM-Ready Science Standards
(NMSRS)

Dear Ms. Gonzales:

The Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) Board of Education (BOE) has approved this letter to the New Mexico Public
Education Department (NMPED) with the recommendation to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as
published without changes to replace 6.29.10 NMAC Science. There are 211 NGSS standards. The NMSRS is identical
to these except for nine revisions and one omission. We support NMPED using NGSS as the NMSRS, without modifications.
The BOE rationale is summarized as follows:

1) The NGSS is a model developed by 26 states that is based on A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices,
Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012). This Framework was developed by the National Research Council
by outstanding scientists and educators. The NGSS is thus based on research and evidence-informed science
practices that represent a valid K-12 science education pathway, with flexibility for local implementation practices.

2) The changes to the NGSS in the proposed NMSRS are in conflict with the principles of inquiry science and with the
research and scientific evidence referenced in the NGSS. In short, the changes do not reflect valid science
information as we understand it today. Our New Mexico students deserve to have consistent science standards as
a basis for their science education, for the development of critical inquiry skills that enable continual investigating,
questioning, and improving of existing scientific knowledge.

3) The changes to the NGSS in the proposed NMSRS reflect negatively on the strong science community that is
embedded in New Mexico culture, such as Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the
Air Force Research Laboratory. These laboratories and associated technology businesses depend on a state that
has a strong science education focus, and the proposed changes would cast doubt on the quality of that education.

4) The proposed changes to NGSS in the NMSRS make the NMSRS unique to New Mexico. This negates the benefit
of leveraging the extensive research and evidence that was the basis for development of the NGSS. In addition,
any results that the NMSRS might attain will not be able to be leveraged for input to the future evolution and potential
improvement of the NGSS.

If you need any clarifications, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Dr. David E Peercy, President, APS BOE Mr. Lorenzo Garcia, VP, APS BOE Dr. Analee Maestas, Secretary, APS BOE
peercy_d@aps.edu, 505-362-6834 garcia_lore@aps.edu, 505-362-6385 analee.maestas@aps.edu, 505-362-4380

Ms. Elizabeth Armijo, Chair,
Capital Outlay,
Property and Technology
elizabeth.armijo@aps.edu,
505-697-1479
Ms. Peggy Muller-Aragn Chair, Ms. Candelaria Patterson, Chair, Ms. Barbara Petersen, Chair,
Finance District Equity and Engagement Policy and Instruction
peggy.mulleraragon@aps.edu, candelaria.patterson@aps.edu, petersen_b@aps.edu,
505-274-9360 505-697-1387 505-288-6404

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