Alabama is updating its science standards to require students to learn evolution and climate change. This major change includes more experimentation and hands-on instruction with less lecturing. These lesson don't require that students have to believe in evolution or accept climate change. However this is the first time that public schools will require students to understand the theory of evolution and teachers will address climate change which hasn't been a focus in science standards since 2005.

These new standards will take effect in 2016 after being approved by the Alabama State Board of Education. "We still have to teach what the science is," said Michal Robinson, science specialist for the sate education agency. "If students want to go into a science field in college or beyond, they have to have a foundation."