State legislative proposal would require it in all public schools

HARTFORD — A legislative proposal in Connecticut would mandate instruction on climate change in public schools statewide, beginning in elementary school.

Connecticut already has adopted science standards that call for teaching of climate change, but if the bill passes, it is believed that it would be the country’s first to write such a requirement into law.

“A lot of schools make the study of climate change an elective, and I don’t believe it should be an elective,” said state Rep. Christine Palm, D-Chester, who proposed the bill. “I think it should be mandatory, and I think it should be early so there’s no excuse for kids to grow up ignorant of what’s at stake.”

Some educators have questioned whether it’s necessary in light of Connecticut’s adoption in 2015 of the Next Generation Science Standards, which include climate change as a core aspect of science education beginning in middle school.

A similar proposal was introduced in the last legislative session but ultimately failed to win approval.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have adopted t he Next Generation Science Standards.

The bill apparently would be the country’s first to make climate change instruction a matter of statute, according to the National Center for Science Education.