NAGT Advocating for Geoscience Education

NAGT Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee leads these efforts in association with the Executive Committee building on NAGT's position statements. Recent activities include addressing an increase in the number of states proposing legislation to weaken the teaching of climate change and evolution, how to best support educator involvement in activities like the March for Science, and what to do in the face of changes in federal support for science and education.

The Advocacy Committee's Guiding Principles:

• Serve the organization's mission

• Maximize the impact of NAGT work on behalf of members and all geoscience educators

• Support initiatives that reflect our mission by local, state, national, and international entities, including professional organizations, non-profits, and government institutions

• Recommend development of position statements or white papers, either as stand-alone NAGT documents or co-authored documents with partner organizations; or recommend endorsements of statements authored wholly by other organizations.

• Author, co-author, or sign letters of support for initiatives (e.g. legislation, public comments, non profit programs).

• Respond to requests from other organizations, and from NAGT sections and divisions.

• Monitor emergent issues at federal, regional, and state levels

NAGT and the March for Science

NAGT is a partner organization in the March for Science taking place in Washington, DC on April 22, 2017, and is supporting sister marches around the world. Learn more about NAGT's participation and about how you can participate, such as joining the email list or signing up to be a speaker or blogger.

NAGT Position Statements

NAGT has developed position statements on specific issues that affect or are affected by geoscience education. These positions were proposed by the membership and approved by the Council. Issues with current position statements include

• High School Earth Science Instruction
• Teaching Evolution
• Climate Change
• Dual Credit and Concurrent Enrollment

Education and Public Policy Email Lists

• NAGT Public Policy list alerts members to needs for immediate input on policy issues, and provide news and updates on opportunities to participate in national events.
• NAGT Science Literacy List provides updates on activity related to development of national science standards, frameworks and literacies.
• NAGT March for Science list provides a forum for members working to support activities surrounding the March for Science in Washington, DC, and the satellite marches around the world on April 22, 2017.

Education and Public Policy Discussion Board

You may also join the discussion about how NAGT can be involved in Education and public policy matters by reading and posting comments to our Policy Discussion Board.

Get Involved

There are several ways to get involved:

• If you are interested in joining NAGT's Advocacy Committee, please contact Mike Phillips.
• Join the NAGT Public Policy email discussion list.
• Join the NAGT March for Science Email List

Other Resources

• Purposeful Alternatives to Protest by Suzanne Traub-Metlay, NAGT Teacher Education Division (TED) President, highlighted in the NAGT TED June 2017 newsletter.
• "Leave Behind" Sheet for Legislative Visits
  NAGT has developed an information sheet (Acrobat (PDF) 2MB Mar14 09) about its interests and involvement in public policy issues for members who conduct Congressional or state legislative visits.
• Critical Needs for the Twenty-First Century: The Role of the Geosciences
  This document from the American Geological Institute (AGI), provides a list of seven critical needs followed by national policy actions to help the nation meet these needs.
• Why Earth Science?
  This report from AGI lays out why Earth Science is important for study, research and funding. There is also a short video version and the report is also available in Spanish.