Results of testing in the U.S. and abroad
Test results suggest that schools in the United States are not doing enough to prepare our students for work and citizenship in the twenty first century. In the authoritative 2003 Trends in International Math and Science Study, American students ranked on average only twelfth in the world. In some areas we fall considerably lower. A 2000 national science skills test identified eighty-two percent of twelfth graders as performing below the proficient level. Worse, a dramatic achievement gap still separates the affluent from the underprivileged. Clearly, if our students are going to be competitive in a globalizing world, drastic action needs to be taken on a local level.
Taking this message to parents and students directly, however, may not be the best strategy. Research suggests that both groups are more motivated by the language of personal opportunity than national competitiveness. If you use troubling statistics like these in public engagement efforts, be sure to translate them into people’s hopes for tangible opportunity.
- What do the most recent tests say about U.S. student achievement in SMT?
- How does my state perform on national SMT testing?
What do the most recent tests say about U.S. student achievement in SMT?
How does my state perform on national SMT testing?