The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is rolling out a district-wide new science curriculum in Earth and Space Science and Life Science: Biology that aligns to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

This transition marks a culmination of years of preparation and represents a fundamental shift in how science will be taught and experienced in classrooms across the district.

Developed by leading science and education experts and largely adopted by New York State, with slight modifications, the NGSS introduces “three-dimensional learning,” where students engage deeply with Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs), and Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs). Rather than memorizing isolated facts, students will explore scientific phenomena, ask questions, design investigations, and apply their understanding through evidence-based explanations and real-world problem-solving. Because New York State made slight modifications when adopting the NGSS, the standards are not referred to as NGSS within the state. Instead, they are known as the New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS) to reflect those state-specific additions and adjustments.

“While hands-on experiments have always been a part of science classes, what’s different now is who drives the investigation. Under the new standards, students won’t just follow step-by-step lab instructions; they’ll take on the role of scientists themselves. This means choosing what variables to investigate, deciding how to carry it out, and thinking critically about the results. The focus is on developing thinkers and problem-solvers, not just students who complete tasks. It’s a shift toward authentic scientific inquiry, where students design investigations, test their ideas, and collaborate to explain real-world phenomena,” said Heather Bizewski, a science chairperson in Bellmore-Merrick.

What Will Look Different?

Classrooms will shift away from passive learning and toward dynamic engagement. According to the National Research Council’s Guide to Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (2015), students will now:

• Conduct hands-on investigations and solve real-world problems
• Analyze complex data sets, graphs, and models
• Engage in evidence-based discussions and write scientific explanations
• Integrate literacy and math skills in the context of science learning

Traditional textbook-based instruction will be replaced with opportunities to explore authentic scientific questions, using a variety of sources and media to construct and communicate their understanding.

Years in the Making

This curricular shift is not new for the district. The journey began in 2017 when teachers were introduced to the NYSSLS and the District developed unit and lesson templates aligned to the new standards for teachers to begin using. Over time, teachers have worked closely with the performance level descriptors provided by NYSED to understand and implement the specific expectations for student proficiency.

To support this transformation:

• The District has engaged in extensive professional development, both in-house and through Nassau and Suffolk BOCES, with training led by district Science Chairs, Master Teachers, and outside experts
• Collaborations with component elementary districts ensured vertical alignment, especially in preparation for the new 5th Grade Science Assessment, launched in June 2024
• The district led curriculum writing projects for 7th grade science (Summer 2022) and 8th grade science (Summer 2023), culminating in common assessments with a new “cluster question” format that challenges students to synthesize information from multiple sources
• Teachers participated in targeted training on Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) to enhance instructional quality and student engagement

“Our teachers have been preparing for this shift for years,” said Bizewski. “They’ve developed new assessments, rewritten curriculum, and participated in hundreds of hours of professional learning to ensure our students are ready to adapt to these new standards. Ongoing collaboration and professional development will remain a key focus as we continue to expand our instructional strategies and refine best practices. This support is especially important as the State continues to release updated versions of the Regents exams. Currently, we have only one sample of the new exam format for each course, both of which were offered in select districts for the first time in June 2025. Bellmore-Merrick will administer these new Regents exams for the first time in June 2026,” Bizewski added.

Supporting All Learners

NYSSLS implementation emphasizes supports for all students to engage in sophisticated scientific thinking, regardless of prior experience or background. “During our curriculum writing projects, it was a priority to include not only science teachers but special education and ELL teachers to differentiate instruction to ensure entry points for all levels of learners. Students will have multiple ways to demonstrate learning fostering both academic and 21st-century skills,”said Bizewski.

Looking Ahead

The District is committed to preparing students to be scientifically literate citizens in a complex world. As the district it moves forward with full implementation in Earth and Space Science and Life Science: Biology for the 2025-26 school, work is continuing for the anticipated introduction of new curriculums for Chemistry and Physics in the 2026-2027 school year.

For more information about NGSS, visit Next Gen Science.