Table 4 Candidate views related to student engagement

Academically successful students would be more interested in controversial issues in science than students who struggle academically

2.50

2.44

−0.06

Elementary students are not mature enough to engage with controversial issues in science

1.88

1.78

−0.10

Middle school students are not mature enough to engage with in controversial issues in science

1.63

1.68

0.05

High school students are not mature enough to engage with controversial issues in science

1.50

1.44

−0.06

Elementary students can learn science content better by engaging with controversial issues

2.63

2.67

0.04

Middle grades students can learn science content better by engaging with controversial issues

2.88

3.11

0.23

High school students can learn science content better by engaging with controversial issues

3.25

3.33

0.08

Integrating controversial issues would increase elementary students’ interest in science

2.63

2.78

0.15

Integrating controversial issues would increase middle grades students’ interest in science

3.25

3.44

0.19

Integrating controversial issues would increase high school students’ interest in science

3.38

3.56

0.18