Project 2061

Project 2061 was a long-term research and development initiative focused on improving science education so that all Americans can become literate in science, mathematics, and technology. To achieve that goal, Project 2061 developed tools and services that educators, researchers, and policymakers could use to make critical and lasting improvements in the nation’s education system.

The Project’s work included:

Science Learning Goals and Curriculum. Through its two-volume Atlas of Science Literacy, as well as Benchmarks for Science Literacy and Science for All Americans, Project 2061 provided a coherent set of K-12 learning goals that serve as a foundation for state and national science education frameworks and standards. The program developed innovative and engaging curriculum materials that supported students' achievement of these science learning goals and tools for evaluating the alignment of curriculum and instruction to standards and the quality of support provided for teachers and students.

Assessment. Project 2061 produced assessment items and instruments that were effective and accurate measures of students’ understanding of science learning goals and could be used to diagnose students' conceptual difficulties. With support from the National Science Foundation, Project 2061 developed an online bank of high-quality test items and related assessment resources for use in middle and early high school science. They developed an NGSS-aligned, scenario-based assessment tasks for evaluating students' understanding of energy concepts from elementary through high school. The assessment tools can now be found at BSCS Science Learning.