About Benchmarks

What is Benchmarks for Science Literacy?

Benchmarks for Science Literacy specifies how students should progress toward science literacy by outlining learning goals to be targeted at certain grade levels. These learning goals, or benchmarks, are statements of what all students should know or be able to do in science, mathematics, and technology by the end of grades 2, 5, 8, and 12. Visit Benchmarks On-Line to learn more, and to view the publication in its entirety.

What is Project 2061?

Project 2061(pronounced 20-61) is a long-term initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science working to reform K-12 science, mathematics, and technology education, and is the publisher of Benchmarks for Science Literacy.

With its 1989 landmark publication Science for All Americans (SFAA), Project 2061 defined science literacy and outlined what all students should know and be able to do by the time they graduate from high school. Benchmarks for Science Literacy, published in 1993, translated the goals in SFAA into specific learning goals or benchmarks for grades K-12.

Visit the Project 2061 homepage to learn more about its philosophy, publications, and professional development opportunities.

What is the relationship between Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards?

Although distinct sets of standards, Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards share similar content. The National Research Council drew heavily on SFAA and Benchmarks when developing their content standards, and has stated that Benchmarks and National Science Education Standards share about 90% of the same content recommendations. Additionally, a survey conducted by SRI International of 43 state curriculum documents revealed that many of them cite Project 2061 and its publications as key sources in their bibliographies, quote directly from Project 2061 publications to describe their vision of science literacy and reform, or organize their own recommendations according to topics in SFAA and Benchmarks.