The College Board introduces college-level science courses for advanced high-school students: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and AP Physics.
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that Arkansas can no longer ban the teaching of evolution. This effectively struck down an Arkansas state law.
Apollo 11 carries three U.S. astronauts to the moon, inspiring many to pursue careers in science. Extensive television coverage put this event into America’s living rooms.
The “Physics First” movement begins to grow, as teachers and scientists push to teach physics rather than biology in ninth grade — to allow more advanced study of biology and chemistry in subsequent years.
Per Scientific American: “A handful of legislators scattered across the country introduce more than a dozen bills that threaten the integrity of science education.” Writer Glenn Branch blames it on a desire to “undermine the teaching of evolution or climate change.”
