Education Policy

Policy Fellowship with the Department of Education

The APS Public Affairs Office organizes a policy fellowship for physics PhDs with the Department of Education.
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Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics

The full report of the Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics (T-TEP) is now available. Except for a few excellent programs, T-TEP found that nationally, physics teacher preparation is inefficient, incoherent, and unprepared to deal with the current and future needs of the nation's students. An innovative national program is needed to develop new resources, expertise, and capacity in order to meet current and future national needs.

Toward this end, T-TEP recommends establishing regional centers in physics education. These centers would be the main regional producers of well-qualified physics teachers and would be a nexus for scholarly work on physics education. In addition, the centers would help veteran science teachers at all levels deepen their knowledge and skill.
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Next Generation Science Standards

The APS Committee on Education has approved a resolution supporting the Next Generation Science Standards.
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Joint Task Force on Undergraduate Physics Programs

J-TUPP is a joint task force convened by the APS and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and is charged with preparing a report that will engage and inform physicists in answering the question: What skills and knowledge should the next generation of undergraduate physics degree holders possess to be well prepared for a diverse set of careers?

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APS Statements on Education

APS has released ten statements on education issues including:

  • K-12 Education: APS calls upon local, state and federal policy makers, educators and schools to provide every student access to high-quality science instruction including physics and physical science concepts at all grade levels and the opportunity for all students to take at least one year of high-quality high school physics.
  • Advocacy for Science Education: APS will advocate support of appropriately peer-reviewed programs that foster and improve undergraduate and graduate science education or that seek to improve education of K-12 science teachers.
  • Research in Physics Education: The APS applauds and supports the acceptance in physics departments of research in physics education.

A new statement is in the works for Undergraduate Education in Physics.

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Education Awards

APS Education Awards highlight programs that support best practices in physics education.
Gray Arrow Committee on Education Award for Improving Undergraduate Physics Education
Gray Arrow APS Award for Excellence in Physics Education

Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowship) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Guidelines. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.