NCSE's Deputy Director Glenn Branch was a source for a recent article on climate change education in the Empire State in The New York Times (January 22, 2024).
Branch commented on the national scene: "While New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California are actively incorporating climate change into curriculums, other states including Texas, Virginia and Florida have resisted, said Glenn Branch, the deputy director of the National Center for Science Education. Reasons include community opposition in more conservative states and outdated science standards, he said."
He also commented on the needs of teachers: "For the subject matter to resonate with students, there should be more teacher training and instructional resources, said Mr. Branch, alluding to past studies that have revealed a lack of teacher exposure [PDF] to climate change. He would like to see more states join California, New Jersey, Maine and Washington, which have earmarked funds for professional development on the topic."
The article also highlights New York's Senate Bill 278 and Assembly Bill 1559, the leading climate change education bills in the state, as NCSE previously reported.
