Numbers for the future

In his State of the Union Address, President Bush announced the American Competitiveness Initiative and proposed, as reported by Associated Press (AP):

training an additional 70,000 teachers over five years to teach advanced math and science courses in high school, where demand for such classes has soared nationwide. He also proposed new math programs for elementary and middle school students, and reiterated his goal to lure thousands of mathematicians and scientists to become adjunct high school teachers.

There is reported a concern where Congress would find money to support this math and science push in education, "which would cost tens of billions of dollars, and whether other education spending would be cut."

The National Academies Press (NAP) has two current publications addressing science education and its assessment in the schools.

America's Lab Report: Investigations in High School Science examines the lab experience in the current high school curriculum and questions its current effectiveness, potential for improvement, and the needed changes for improvement. Recommended for educators, school administrators, policy makers, and parents. (Susan R. Singer, Margaret L. Hilton, and Heidi A. Schweingruber, Editors, Committee on High School Science Laboratories: Role and Vision, National Research Council. 254 pages.)

Systems for State Science Assessment examines tools and methods necessary to assess science learning and content standards and to measure student progress. Self-described as, "a critical resource for states that are designing and implementing science assessments to meet the 2007-2008 requirements of NCLB." Recommended for policy makers, schools, teachers, scientists, and parents. (Mark R. Wilson and Meryl W. Bertenthal, Editors, Committee on Test Design for K-12 Science Achievement, National Research Council. 248 pages.)

Both publications are also available as Open Books from NAP, to read or browse online:


America's Lab Report (Open Book)
(and available as download, the Executive Summary, in pdf, 396KB)

Systems for State Science Assessment (Open Book)
(and available as download, the Executive Summary, in pdf, 280KB)