BATON ROUGE - The state's top school board has endorsed a potentially controversial review of science standards in Louisiana's public schools.

The benchmarks used today were crafted in 1997, and they are the third oldest in the nation.

Under the plan, a 31-member committee will oversee the revisions with the assistance of three subcommittees.

Work sessions are set to start in August, including public comments.

The panel is scheduled to make its final recommendations on Feb. 13, 2017.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will then review the proposed changes in March.

Classroom standards represent what students from kindergarten through 12th grade should know in science, biology, chemistry, physics and other subjects.

The Brookings Institute says Louisiana's benchmarks lack integration in the all-important STEM - science, technology, math and engineering.