The following excerpt from the standards directs schools to teach about the controversy surrounding the theory of evolution. This section of the standards, Nature of Science, is not from the sections that will be tested by the state assessments, and other parts of the science standards teach only evolutionary theory. Therefore, the state cannot enforce these standards.

However, Minnesota parents and school board members may use these standards to support their efforts to have their schools teach the controversy in evolutionary theory. It will be very difficult, for example, for schools to prohibit teachers from teaching the controversy when this language has been adopted by the state legislature as part of the state science standards.

The Santorum amendment, a section of the No Child Left Behind Congressional conference report that was agreed to by Congressional House and Senate conference committee members, clarifies Congressional intent that all sides of controversial subjects such as evolution be included. The amendment states: "Where topics are taught that may generate controversy [such as biological evolution], the curriculum should help students to understand the full range of scientific views that exist and why such topics may generate controversy, and how scientific discoveries can profoundly affect society."

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