To be fully informed citizens, students do not have to accept everything that is taught in the natural science curriculum, but they do have to understand the major strands of scientific thought, including its methods, facts, hypotheses, theories and laws.

--From the Science Framework for California Public Schools

Excerpts from the State Board Policy on the Teaching of Natural Sciences:

The domain of the natural sciences is the natural world. Science is limited by its tools - observable facts and testable hypotheses. Discussions of any scientific fact, hypothesis, or theory related to the origins of the universe, the earth, and life (the how) are appropriate to the science curriculum. Discussions of divine creation, ultimate purposes, or ultimate causes (the why) are appropriate to the history-social science and English language arts curricula.

Nothing in science or in any other field of knowledge shall be taught dogmatically. Dogma is a system of beliefs that is not subject to scientific test and refutation. Compelling belief is inconsistent with the goal of education; the goal is to encourage understanding.

From time to time natural science teachers are asked to teach content that does not meet the criteria of scientific fact, hypothesis, and theory as these terms are used in natural science and as defined in this policy. As a matter of principle, science teachers are professionally bound to limit their teaching to science and should resist pressure to do otherwise. Administrators should support teachers in this regard.

Refer to the Science Framework for California Public Schools and the California Education Code for more detailed information.

Related links:

CDE - Science Framework for California Public Schools

CDE - History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools

Religion and the Teaching of History-Social Science