The Status of STS Implementation in the United States and Its Implications

This study was designed to determine the number of states that are currently implementing Science-Technology-Society (STS) education and similar society-based, science education programs (STS-surrogates) in the United States and to describe the nature of this implementation. STS is operationally defined as the interaction between science, technology, and society. STS-Surrogates denote science or technology education programs which are society-based as they look at societal issues, concerns, and problems but do not use the term "STS" in their titles and are not directly related to the STS curriculum movement. Data from all 50 states were obtained through a telephone survey of state science supervisors. This data indicates that 6 states require, 9 states recommend, and 19 states encourage STS education in their science curricula. Two states will require STS education by 1993 and one state will encourage STS education by 1994. Forty-five states will have some form of STS education implementation by 1994. Twenty-two states report that 3,237 school districts (21% nationwide) have implemented STS education. To date there have been 968 inservice training/workshops conducted related to STS education. (PR)