AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS AND THE CLIMATE CHANGE CURRICULUM TAUGHT TO STUDENTS.

HB 5378 revises Connecticut's Next Generation Science Standards to require students to learn about "the debate and research concerning the amount and effects of human-caused carbon dioxide levels" within the climate change curriculum. This change directly affects K-12 students in Connecticut public schools by altering the content taught in science classes. The key mechanism adds a specific requirement for educators to present both scientific debate and research on human contributions to CO2 emissions. The bill does not change existing climate science standards but mandates inclusion of this debate component in classroom instruction.