(from CCSD News) The State Board of Education has posted, for a 60-day public comment period, the first Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) for science and social studies. If approved, the standards will be implemented in the 2017-18 school year, following a full year of teacher training. View a simple overview of the science standards here and the social studies standards here. To give your feedback on the proposed standards, please go to the following surveys:

• Survey for Feedback of Revised Science Standards
• Survey for Feedback of Revised Social Studies Standards

The standards, if approved, will replace the current Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) in science and social studies with the Georgia Standards of Excellence. They were developed based on a formal review and evaluation process which included opportunities for teachers, parents and families, students, business and industry, and community members to participate through surveys and committees. Now, the public will have 60 days to review the proposed standards and provide feedback before the State Board of Education votes on whether to approve them.

"I'm committed to ensuring appropriate, fully vetted standards that are developed based on public feedback, in time for teachers to receive ample training," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "I encourage all those who care about public education in Georgia to review the proposed standards and share their thoughts. Whether you're an educator, a parent, a student, or simply a concerned citizen, we value your feedback and urge you to take the time to share it with us before these standards are finalized and voted on by the State Board of Education."

As part of the process of review that produced the proposed new standards, science and social studies teachers across the state were asked to provide feedback for every single standard and element in their grade level or high school course. The science and social studies surveys each drew more than 9,000 teachers, with participation from every school district. Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs) assisted in development of the survey, and the University System of Georgia provided a third-party analysis of the survey results.

Students, parents and families, business and industry, and community members were also invited to provide feedback on the existing standards. SEDL, an affiliate of American Institutes for Research, assisted in management of the survey, and Georgia State University provided a third-party analysis of the results.

Survey results were used by practicing Georgia social studies and science teachers to guide revisions made to the existing standards. Advisory and academic committees also took part in the revision; these included district-level instructional leaders and representatives from business and industry, Georgia's university and technical college systems, nonprofit organizations and other education-related state agencies.