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Math & Science Performance Up in Most States
A recent study found that students are performing at higher levels in mathematics and are taking more higher-level math and science courses in the majority of the 40 states that participated in a recent study of U.S. mathematics and science education.
The findings come from State Indicators of Science and Mathematics Education, 1997. This study, the fourth in a biennial series on the condition of K-12 science and math education, was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and prepared by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) with cooperation from the state departments of education and the National Center for Education Statistics.
The CCSSO study focused on student achievement in mathematics and science, mathematics and science content and instruction, and teacher preparation, supply, and conditions. Major findings include:
From 1990 to 1996, 27 states made significant improvement in the percent of 8th grade students reaching the "proficient" level of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP);
The average NAEP science score was significantly above the national average in 17 states;
More than 50 percent of high school students take three years of mathematics and science by graduation, a significant increase from 1990; and,
Nationwide shortages of well-prepared or certified teachers persist; one-fourth of the states have significant teacher shortages at the high school level, with 10 to 20 percent of teachers not certified in their assigned field.
CCSSO is a nationwide, nonprofit organization composed of public officials who lead the departments responsible for elementary and secondary education in the states. CCSSO's goal in producing this report is to assist state, national, and local policymakers and educators in making informed decisions when reforming and restructuring science and mathematics education. The entire report, State Indicators of Science and Mathematics Education, 1997, can be viewed on the web at www.ccsso.org.