GLASGOW —
Some Kentucky Republicans are taking issue with how evolution is being taught to high school biology students.
The subject is one component of the science portion of the annual ACT exam, which is now required for all Kentucky high school juniors.
The issue was recently brought up during a meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Education in Frankfort.
According to the Associated Press, ACT Educational Services Vice President Ginger Hopkins said the exam is designed in such a way that it measures whether high school students are ready for collegiate-level work.
She said the questions are based on what college professors say incoming students need to know.
The exams are part of new requirements stemming from a 2009 bill to push Kentucky testing to national standards for better comparisons of student success.
Glasgow High School Advanced Placement (AP) Biology instructor Elizabeth Wilson said the biological evolution portion of the exam consists of analyzing data.
“For the most part, a lot of what is on the ACT is graphs and data and analyzing those graphs and analyzing that data,” she said. “Students are not being asked to offer their opinion on evolution. It’s definitely just to analyze whatever data is there. The exam does not promote evolution.”
At the meeting, lawmakers discussed whether evolution was fact and whether creationism should be given equal time.
For the full story, read the Weekender print or e-Edition of the Glasgow Daily Times.
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