skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Indiana Schools Adding Climate Change Studies to Science Curriculum

play audio
Play

Monday, January 9, 2023   

Major changes are coming to Indiana schools, as state educators are adding a new climate change curriculum to science classes. New state science standards, which require more climate education, will go into full effect by next school year.

A 2020 survey by science educators found a majority of the 50 states did not include elements of environmental science and climate change in their curricula.

Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center for Science Education, said over the past decade, climate change has gone from being an abstract concept to a clear and present danger to the planet.

"It's important for today's students to understand climate change because they're going to be experiencing the disruptive effects of climate change for the rest of their life," Branch pointed out. "They'll need to be equipped with the knowledge and know how to adapt to and mitigate the worst of these effects."

The state's new Climate Change Education Framework was produced by a partnership between Purdue University and the Indiana Board of Education. Officials call the curriculum a "major step forward" in preparing students to cope with climate change.

A recent study by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found 72% of Americans believe climate change is real, and a majority agree it is caused by human activity. Branch said in a study by the center, Indiana ranked among the bottom 10 states for its climate change studies.

"In that study, Indiana's standards received a D, so not very good at all," Branch noted. "If we were to apply the same rubric to the new standards, it would at least get a B plus, possibly an A minus."

Branch added many teachers have not yet had the opportunity to learn about climate change and will need extra training to get up to speed.

"It's one thing to tell the teachers, 'Hey, you need to start teaching more about climate change,' and it's another thing to prepare the teachers to do so," Branch stressed. "Remember, today's teachers were educated in yesterday's schools. Yesterday's schools didn't teach very much about climate change."


get more stories like this via email
more stories
In the latest analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data by state, Maryland took first place as the worst state for wage theft, owing on average more than $2,200 to workers. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…


Environment

play sound

Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …

Social Issues

play sound

Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …


Gov. Kathy Hochul's free community college proposal would apply to people pursuing first-time associate degrees for jobs in high-demand fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

New York State is making historic higher education investments. As part of the 2026 budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes free community …

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Consumer advocates in Maine said the availability of enhanced subsidies have helped record numbers of people get the health care coverage they need…

play sound

The negative effects on air quality from industrialized animal facilities in North Carolina stick around for a long time, according to a new study…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021