This issue of "Policy Forum" compares the mathematics and science achievement of students midway through elementary school, midway through lower secondary school, and at the end of upper secondary school. The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), conducted in 1995-96, is the largest international education study ever…

Used data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study for Canada to study the stability of within-school socioeconomic gaps in mathematics and science achievement. Discusses the success of schools and teachers in fighting socioeconomic gaps in mathematics and science achievement. (SLD)

Investigates the gap in math and science achievement of third- and fourth-graders who live with a single parent versus those who live with two parents in 11 countries. Finds single parenthood to be less detrimental when family policies equalize resources between single- and two-parent families. Concludes that national family policies can offset…

Outlining, making data tables, and sequencing events are commonly used for teaching specific topics in science but not as general learning tools. Discusses how the teaching and application of these visual representation techniques helps students realize their usefulness as learning tools and to learn more efficiently. (LZ)

Presents a meta-analysis of literature which examined gender differences in students attitudes toward science, and correlations between attitudes toward science and science achievement. Results found that boys show a more positive attitude toward science than girls in all types of science and that a positive attitude results in higher achievement,…

Summarizes the data on math and science preparation and the results of the ACT Mathematics and Science Reasoning test for the nation's public high school graduating class of 1994. Highlights how the probability of student success in university science and math courses is affected. A rigorous high school program remains a significant precondition…

Reviews the Educational Testing Service's five most recent "State of Achievement" reports on the quality of non-higher education. The value of these reports is questionable, because their bias seems negative and their standards too perfectionist. Apparent poor results for U.S. children, compared with children of other nations, may arise…

Introduces the IEA's ongoing Second International Science Study, undertaken in 25 countries with students in approximately grades 5, 9, and 12. Discusses research goals; design; emphases on context of science education, curriculum comparisons, teaching practices, and outcomes (science achievement and student attitudes); target populations;…

The relationship between students' opportunity to learn (OTL) and their science achievement was studied with 623 eighth graders from five schools. Hierarchical linear analysis shows that OTL variables are not unitary constructs, so that different dimensions of OTL should be measured simultaneously to document it properly. Implications for teachers…

Against the backdrop of increasing concern about promoting science achievement, describes the uncertain value of school science, examines the construction of science classes without science at one high school, and traces how school participants produce a veritable absence of science in science classes and how the production is sensible given their…

TIMSS (Third International Mathematics and Science Study) is the largest, most ambitious study of comparative education ever attempted. Despite the TIMSS Subject Matter Advisory Committee's best efforts, not all test items truly reflect student math and science achievement. Some items have more than one correct response; some are not grounded in…

Presents a number of analyses based on the results of the Third International Science and Mathematics Study (TIMSS) in Switzerland. Results show that it's possible to reflect the complicated structure of Swiss secondary education in a sampling design and that there's little growth in mathematics literacy in Swiss upper secondary school students.…

An evaluation of the Primary Education Quality Improvement Project in Indonesia illustrates that combining the knowledge base and methodology of educational effectiveness research and cost-effectiveness analysis provides fruitful possibilities for future theoretical/practical developments in both approaches. PEQIP positively affected student…

Presents highlights from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2000 Science Assessment, including average scores and achievement-level performance at the national and state levels. Results show no change in national average scores at grades 4 and 8 and a decline at grade 12, with few changes overall in students' 2000 achievement…

Analyzes two conflicting pieces of evidence--the high-ranking achievement of Australian primary students on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and the knowledge that the quality of primary science education in Australia has been poor for some time. Reveals strengths and weaknesses in Australian elementary science…