Policy & Legislation

Public Policy Statements

AAPT has developed positions on several issues of relevance to physics education and association governance.

• AAPT Signs on to Joint Statement on Sustainable Systems for Quality Teaching
• AAPT White Paper on the Increase Investment in Accessible Physics Labs: A Call to Action for the Physics Education Community
• AAPT White Paper on NSF Funding Priorities - Endorsed by the Board of Directors on April 10, 2021
• Statement on Violence in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021
• How to work with external evaluators: A white paper for the physics education community
• Statement on the Use of the GRE in Admissions to Graduate Physics Programs
  • Physics GRE requirements for US and Canadian Astronomy & Physics Programs
• Fostering Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments
• Guns in the Classroom
• Education of Future Teachers
• Physics First
• Research in Physics Education
• Teaching of Evolution and Cosmology
• AAPT Recommendations for the Undergraduate Physics Laboratory Curriculum
• Development of Commercial Products
• Statement on Diversity
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates
• Conceptual Frameworks for New Science Education Standards
• Statement on Computational Physics
• Statement on Education for a Sustainable Future
• Statement on High School Physics Courses for College-Readiness in STEM Areas
• Statement on National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics (Endorsed by the Executive Board October 2012)
• Statement on Professional Development for High School Physics Teachers
• AAPT Board Endorsed Position Supporting Physics Teachers as Instructors in Astronomy Courses

Physics Advocacy

• 2020 Congressional Visit Day - One Pagers
  • Efforts to Increase Diversity in Physics and Create Inclusive and Equitable Learning Spaces
  • Efforts to Increase the Effectiveness and Accessibility of Remote STEM Instruction Due to COVID-19
• 2019 Congressional Visit Day - One Pagers
  • Funding the National Science Foundation
  • Opposing Cuts to the Department of Education
  • Combating Sexual Harassment in Science
• Multi-society Letter to President Trump on Immigration
• STEM Education: A National Imperative
• Call for Action to Support NSF Funding
• NSF Funding Support Letter
• Policy Issues Affecting the physics community in the 112th Congress (2011-2012)
• Potential Legislative Issues in the 113th Congress (2013-2014)
• Communicating with Congress
• Contact your US Senator
• Contact your US Representative

Science Education Advocacy

• AAPT's letter of support for the Next Generation Science Standards
• Response to Second Draft of Next Generation Science Standards
• Response to First Draft of Next Generation Science Standards
• Next Generation Science Standards 2nd Draft - Call for feedback.

Legislative Resources

• Science Debate 2008
• STEM Education Coalition
• Congressional Research Report on STEM Education
• Committee on Science and Technology
• National Science and Technology Council
• White House Focus on Education