using the criteria. The expectations for core materials are more comprehensive than for supplementary materials. For example, core materials need to provide assessment strategies, whereas this is not an expectation for science activity books. Likewise, core materials need to allow students to study a concept in depth, while supplementary units may provide only a general introduction to a topic.

The NSRC's "Evaluation Criteria for Middle School Science Curriculum Materials" are reprinted in full in this appendix. Teachers, curriculum specialists, curriculum developers, principals, superintendents, and those involved in various aspects of science education reform may find the criteria not only instructive, but useful as an instrument for reviewing instructional materials for local adoption.