Rodger W. Bybee|Donald Kennedy
Math and Science Achievement
Biological Sciences Curriculum Study
results trends international mathematics science study timss tests 2003 released 14 december 2004 contain important messages whats happening globally math science educationmessages taken increasingly seriously nearly 50 participating nations hope readers science tests also given 1995 1999 measure mathematics science achievement grades 4 8 reflecting average 4 8 years schooling respectively closely linked school mathematics science curricula participating countries tests yield data student achievement relate concepts learned schoolscomparative national data mathematics science grades reveal nearmonopoly asia topscoring group including singapore korea hong kong taiwan japan several european nations cluster united states several nations next set considerable spread scores among nations average scaled scores eighthgrade mathematics ranging 605 singapore 264 south africa best performer nations ranked high united nations development programmes human development index hdi students hungary malaysia south korea example much better countrys hdi 1995 2003 scores fourth eighthgraders disciplines increased held constant nations timss samples improvement especially noteworthy fourthgrade mathematics scores international science thats good newsfigure1 credit photoscomin united states mathematics science education core item national debate education reform k12 level active national local efforts focused curriculum improvement us students timss grade 4 1995 2003 us student scores held constant although international ranking declined slightly average scores us eighthgraders made statistically significant improvements 1995 2003 mathematics science good news described us subpopulation performance analysis eighthgrade africanamerican hispanic students demonstrated improvement mathematics sciences 8year span average science scores narrowed achievement gap previously separated performance whitesthese gains provide comfort us scientists worry health elementary education find cause surely give credit child left behind nclb legislation set aside political optimism nclb passed 2001 late much influence assessment results hand national standards including national council teachers mathematics nctm standards 1989 american association advancement science aaas benchmarks science literacy 1993 national research council nrc national science education standards 1995 around right length time significant cumulative effect national standards educational system influenced state standards textbook selection assessments less directly teacher education think strong argument made linking standards improvement see timss resultseducation reform takes time results suggest progress beginning show timss always sobering test us educators results force comparison systemwhich insists right 50 states 15000 school districts shape mathematics science programswith centrally organized systems singapore world leader results represented timss 2003 would suggest giving accelerated emphasis strong voluntary national standards challenging prescription nation devoted local control one made difficult increasing efforts number school districts mandate courses offer religious alternatives scientific theoriesperhaps 2003 timss results addition providing baseline comparing international educational systems persuade us policymakers count costs leaving everything local decisionmaking 1 pendingyes