Course+offerings+and+The+New+Standards+lets+start+thinking+about+this.

John Olson is the new MN dept. of ED science advisor. I met him at my conference on Friday. He shared a unapproved version of the new science standards. Stated they would be released next week. Here is a few things I learned from him: 1) The new standards have tons more earth science for the 9-12 standards. 2) There are separate Chemistry standards-2 pages. 3) There are separate Physics standards- 2 pages. 4) All students need to take either chemistry or physics in 11 or 12th grade by 2015 seniors. This course should address the separate chem or physics standards. 5) A physical science course typically taught in 9th grade will not count towards the 2015 chem/physics requirement. 6) Several districts are addressing the engineering and technology components of the standards in other disciplines. Such as drafting, and Ag courses. 7) There is a NEW Native American history in science standard in the 9-12 standards.

After looking at the chemistry standards, I think a "watered down" chem course may not address the chem standards. For example, one of the standards specifically states the student should be able to convert grams, Liters, or molecules to moles. This was the math portion I would leave out of a "watered down" course.