FCPS science and STEM update: hands‑on instruction, ESSL visits and sustainability grants
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Summary
Supervisors told the committee FCPS emphasizes hands‑on, phenomenon‑based science aligned to Maryland State Science Standards, highlighted the Earth and Space Science Lab (about 20,000 annual visits), upcoming science fairs and a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant supporting environmental literacy.
Colleen Beal, FCPS supervisor for pre‑K–12 science and STEM, presented the district’s approach to science instruction, curriculum review and student programming and described sustainability and partnership efforts.
Beal said FCPS focuses on hands‑on, phenomenon‑based instruction to build scientific literacy and disciplinary writing (claim‑evidence‑reasoning) across grade bands, and that the district adheres to the Maryland State Science Standards structured around disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and cross‑cutting concepts.
Assessment and courses: Beal reviewed high‑school requirements (three lab courses spanning physical/earth, life and chemical sciences) and said the district is conducting a textbook/resource review for middle‑school HQIM with two robust programs slated for board consideration at the end of the month. She reported strong district performance on Maryland’s science assessments, citing a 3.6% increase in elementary and a 10% increase in middle and high school compared with the prior year.
Student programming and public events: Beal highlighted the Earth and Space Science Lab (ESSL) as a core resource — serving grades 1–5 with roughly 20,000 school‑day visits annually — and noted elementary and secondary county science fairs (elementary fair March 21; secondary fair March 28 at Tuscarora High School). She also listed extracurricular STEM clubs, robotics teams and a women‑in‑STEM speaker series and said FCPS seeks internships and partnerships with local organizations.
Environmental literacy and sustainability: The district is embedding environmental literacy standards pre‑K–12, coordinating with facilities and a sustainability specialist (Dawn Aschbacher). Beal said FCPS received a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant last year to grow teacher capacity, currently has 13 green schools and has applied for additional high‑school grant funding.
What’s next: The CNI committee will receive proposed HQIM choices for approval at an upcoming board meeting; Beal said implementation timelines depend on budget and teacher bandwidth.