SB 1249 - This act establishes the Missouri Science Education Act. The act requires instruction for science courses in sixth through twelfth grades to comply with its best practices within five years after its passage. The act defines "verified empirical data" and "substantive amount" and specifies that information appearing to be verified empirical data but is not verified must be separately identified. Information that represents scientific thought, such as theory, hypothesis, extrapolation, and estimation, among others, must also be distinguished from verified empirical data and may be presented in the light of critical analysis. Critical analysis may discuss problems such as faulty logic, alternate explanations, or conflicting experiments. A substantive amount of critical analysis is required when teaching a theory of biological origins or current scientific theory that deals with prehistory or the future. State assessments must comply with this act. This act is identical to HB 1266 (2006). DONALD THALHUBER