1. (1) In general, a basic program in science shall:

   1. (a) meet the following conditions:

      1. (i) maintain an environment that recognizes scientific knowledge as the product of inquiry and is continually subject to review, verification, and revision; and
      2. (ii) foster an environment that embraces the interactions of science, technology, and society.

   2. (b) include the following practices:

      1. (i) investigate problems of individual, social, and ethical importance in the natural world through the selection and application of appropriate scientific techniques;
      2. (ii) connect initial inquiry and discovery to prior knowledge;
      3. (iii) employ varied strategies for investigation, allowing students to understand science as a process, experience practical problem-solving, and develop critical thinking skills;
      4. (iv) emphasize experimentation, data analysis, and the communication of findings to build new understandings by classifying ongoing observations, modeling natural phenomena, and developing the capacity to make inferences about unexplored concepts; and
      5. (v) use technology for collaborative inquiries to extend curricular experiences within the school and to other schools, communities, and businesses.

Authorizing statute(s): Sec. 20-2-114, MCA

Implementing statute(s): Sec. 20-2-121, 20-3-106, 20-7-101, MCA

History: NEW, 1989 MAR p. 342, Eff. 7/1/89; AMD, 2001 MAR p. 953, Eff. 6/8/01.