National Congress on Science Education
Cosponsored by the National Science Teachers Association and
NSTA State Chapters and Associated Groups
TO: Chapter and Associated Group Presidents

FROM: Ken Rosenbaum

NSTA Chapter Relations Consultant

DATE: August 1, 2006

SUBJECT: Congress 2006 Resolutions

The National Congress on Science Education (NCSE) is financially supported by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and NSTA State Chapters and Associated Groups (CAGs). The Congress is an independent body that focuses on science education from local perspectives. This year the seventh annual Congress was held in Toronto.

Congress delegates bring resolutions that reflect issues in science education to the Congress. NCSE resolutions may arise from the actions of the governing bodies of the State Chapters or the issue forums (focus groups) at the Congress meetings. There are three types of Congress resolutions: those that are addressed to the attention of the Chapters and Associated Groups for their consideration and possible action, those that are addressed to the attention of the NSTA for consideration, and those which are statements of the position of the Congress on various issues.

The NCSE 2007 resolutions that were passed this year are listed below. In response to resolutions from past Congresses, I am asking that you please inform me of any actions or positions that your Chapter or Associated Group takes in response to these Congress Resolutions so that I may share your reposnses with other CAGs and the 2007 Congress which will take place in July, 2007 at San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to these action items, the following individuals were elected to serve on the 2007 Congress Planning Committee:
From Congress:
Donna Daly, TN (ASMC), Adrienne Elder, OK (OSTA), and
James Redmond, HA (HaSTA),
Alternate – Heidi Kellar, OR (OSTA)

From the Council:
Jack Wheatley, District.VI Director; Vanessa Westbrook, District XIII Director; Christine Royce, District IV Director.
Alternate - Mary Lightbody District X Director
As always, if you have questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact me at krosenbaum@nsta.org or (866) 737-6713.


Position Statements adopted by the 2006 National Congress on Science Education

7/06CNG5 Whereas, NCSE recognizes and distinguishes between Students with disabilities and English Language Learners;
Be it resolved that the NCSE advocates and will support science-teaching practices inclusive of and directed to English Language Learners.
Examples of such support may include but are not limited to:
1. Advocate a conference Strand focused on: Literacy and ELD – English Language Development, Through Science. (PDIs – run by NSTA)
2. Encourage NSTA /CAGs to develop partnerships with Reading and Literacy Associations.
3. NSTA endorse research of ELD in Science
4. Actively seek out and have represented at conferences: Vendors/Publishers and presenters to represent ELD in science.
5. Establish link from NSTA to Reading Associations and vice versa.
6. Establish a list serve for ELD on NSTA website.
7. Develop an affiliation with NABE (National Association of Bilingual Educators).
8. Designate a scholarship amount or scholarships for science teachers with ELL to attend conferences. 7/06CNG14 Be it resolved that the National Congress on Science Education provide a workshop at the 2007 meeting, which addresses the creation and maintenance for successful partnerships.


7/06CNG15 Be it resolved that the National Congress on Science Education endorses the recent legislation, Science Accountability Act (H.R. 5442), by Representative Vernon Ehlers and that Chapters and Associated Groups be encouraged to join in endorsing this legislation.

7/06CNG17 Be it resolved that the National Congress on Science Education endorses and supports the NSTA efforts pertaining to the concept of a national public awareness campaign about the urgent need to promote science education, to be supported by statistical profiles of current economic trends and the necessity to increase the level of our national science literacy.

National Congress Resolutions for consideration and action by Chapters and Associated Groups

7/06CNG3 Be it resolved that Congress recommends that CAGS, participate in one international outreach efforts and share the experience with the science education community through publications, conferences and/or other NSTA venues. Be it further resolved that NSTA District Directors support CAGs in this effort.

7/06CNG4 Be it resolved that, because of the urgent need, Congress recommends that CAGs shall utilize outreach tools provided by the International Focus Group to launch a grass roots effort that promotes a global perspective within STEM education. 7/06CNG7 Be it resolved that CAGS of NSTA review NSTA’s position statement on students with disabilities and examine what they can do to advocate the visions and declarations in the statement and how to provide professional development and support to teachers in teaching science to students with disabilities.

7/06CNG9 Be it resolved that NSTA partner with CAGS to establish procedures that facilitate the development of state board policies and state legislation advocating for quality professional development for K–12 science teachers.

7/06CNG13 Be it resolved that CAGS will be asked to identify and submit examples of successful partnerships to NSTA for dissemination through the use of a common form.

National Congress Resolutions passed by the NSTA Council and Board of Directors

7/06CNG2 Be it resolved that Congress recommends that the NSTA International Advisory Board create, maintain and publicize a collection of resources and opportunities (such as GLOBE, SAW [Science Across the World], Fulbright Scholarships, international student and teacher internships, and science organizations, etc) for CAGs and educators to use in order to develop international partnerships.

7/06CNG6 Be it resolved that NSTA will develop a position statement addressing English Language Learners in Science.

7/06CNG16 Be it resolved the National Congress on Science Education advocates (that the NSTA staff study the feasibility of) the formation of a communication clearinghouse of legislative correspondence at NSTA for assisting state level organizations in communications with their state legislative groups and boards of education in all matters regarding science education.
(parenthetical phrase added by NSTA Board action)

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