The issue focused on the study of science in schools, and whether education officials can make progress with students who are sometimes defined as non-believers.

"It's an ongoing debate about whether our science teachers can help [students] develop scientific literacy," said Science Educator Group president Bill Marler, a professor at South Dakota State University. "We need to have more research that shows what works and what doesn't."

In her five years as South Dakota's science teacher, student scientists had