The Progress of Education Reform - Secondary STEM Education PDF - The next generation of Americans will likely require a solid grounding in mathematics and science for their creativity to be maximized in a world increasingly dependent on technological advances for prosperity and security. As the majority of Americans do not earn a postsecondary degree, it is essential that students be given this solid grounding during the elementary and secondary years. (Kyle Zinth, Education Commission of the States, July 2008)...

Mathematics: Which practices impact student achievement? - Access related research titles from the ECS Research Studies Database. Links embedded in titles will take you to each study's major findings and recommendations....

Effects of the Connected Mathematics Project 2 (CMP2) on the Mathematics Achievement of Grade 6 Students in the Mid-Atlantic Region - This study examines the effects of Connected Mathematics Project 2 (CMP2) on grade 6 student mathematics achievement and engagement. It responds to a need to improve mathematics learning in the Mid-Atlantic Region. However, the researchers found that CMP2 did not have a statistically significant effect on grade 6 mathematics achievement. (National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, March 2012)...

Science and Engineering Indicators 2012 - This overview of the National Science Board’s Science and Engineering Indicators 2012 highlights some major developments in international and U.S. science and technology (S&T). (National Science Foundation, 2012)...

Nation's Report Card--Findings in Brief: Reading and Mathematics--2011 - This brief report summarizes the major findings from the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading and mathematics assessments. The assessments were administered at grades 4 and 8, and the report includes information on students in public and private schools in the nation as well as public school students in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense schools. (NCES, November 2011)...

University of Chicago School Mathematics Project 6-12 Curriculum - This What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) intervention report evaluates the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project curriculum--a series of yearlong courses emphasizing problem solving, real-world applications and the use of technology. The program is designed to allow schools to offer students appropriate math, regardless of grade level. The curriculum was found to have potentially positive effects on math achievement for high school students. (Institute of Education Sciences, July 2011)...

WWC Quick Review of the Report "Achievement Effects of Four Early Elementary School Math Curricula: Findings for First and Second Graders" - This study measured the relative effects by comparing end-of-year test scores on a nationally normed math assessment developed for the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten for first graders and on a similar assessment adapted for this study for second graders. (Institute of Education Sciences, April 2011)...

Preparation, Placement, Proficiency: Improving Middle Grades Math Performance - This brief contains highlights from the follow-up analysis to Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades: Why Some Schools Do Better. The follow-up analysis used the Gaining Ground data file. In addition, new analyses were conducted of the survey responses of the superintendents, principals and math teachers in the study to identify policies and practices that correlate with higher school achievement in grade 8 math, controlling for key school variables and students' prior test scores. In May 2011, EdSource released Needed: Careful Evaluation of Alegbra I Placements in Grade 8, a companion to the main report. (EdSource, 2011)...

Learning Trajectories in Mathematics: A Foundation for Standards, Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction - The report aims to provide a useful introduction to current work and thinking about learning trajectories in mathematics education and why they matter. (Consortium for Policy Research in Education, January 2011)...

Achievement Effects of Four Early Elementary School Math Curricula: Findings for First and Second Graders - Many U.S. children start school with weak math skills and there are differences between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds—those from poor families lag behind those from affluent ones. These differences also grow over time, resulting in substantial differences in math achievement by the time students reach the fourth grade. The purpose of this large-scale, national study is to determine whether some early elementary school math curricula are more effective than others at improving student math achievement. (Institute of Education Sciences, October 2010)...

Young Children Use Statistical Sampling to Infer the Preferences of Other People - This study suggests that young children use their basic understanding of statistics to make inferences about people's motivation and preferences. Researchers found that even at a young age, children were inferring that people who choose rare objects probably have a strong preference for that specific item. This study suggests that young children are capable of more sophisticated mathematical reasoning and social learning than what typical early care and education programs may support. (Psychological Science, 2010) ...

Informing Grades 1-6 Mathematics Standards Development: What Can Be Learned From High-Performing Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore? - AIR chose the three Asian countries because of their high performance on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) assessments. The analysis finds a number of features that can inform an international benchmarking process for the development of K–6 mathematics standards in the United States. (American Institutes for Research, December 2009)...

Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood: Paths Toward Excellence and Equity - This book is based on the National Research Council’s original research of “teaching-learning paths” and describes the four stages of learning core math concepts from ages two to seven. It offers nine policy recommendations to improve math teaching in early childhood. (National Research Council, 2009)...

World-Class Science and Mathematics - To end the patchwork of curriculum, tests and teacher development that characterizes mathematics and science education in the United States, model instructional packages should be created to help schools develop their capacity to teach K-8 science and math skills. The federal government should also study effective teaching practice in math and science and use that knowledge to recommend improvements in teacher preparation. Finally, no reform effort should be launched unsupported by research to design, monitor, evaluate and redesign for greater effectiveness. (National Academy of Education’s Education Policy Briefing Sheet, November 2008)...

Effective Programs in Middle and High School Mathematics: A Best-Evidence Synthesis - There were 100 qualifying studies, 26 of which used random assignment to treatments. Effect sizes were very small for mathematics curricula and for computer-assisted instruction. Positive effects were found for two cooperative learning programs. Outcomes were similar for disadvantaged and nondisadvantaged students and for students of different ethnicities. Consistent with an earlier review of elementary programs, this article concludes that programs that affect daily teaching practices and student interactions have more promise than those emphasizing textbooks or technology alone. (Best Evidence Encyclopedia, October 2008)...

Mathematics Education for Young Children: What It is and How to Promote It - This report finds that teacher practices tend to focus on the most basic aspects of math education such as counting and learning the names of common shapes. It outlines six essential components of early childhood math education and gives nine recommendations in the areas of teacher preparation, ongoing professional development, curriculum, research, assessment, and evaluation. (Society for Research in Child Development, 2008)...

Encouraging Girls in Math and Science - This practice guide formulates specific and coherent evidence-based recommendations that educators can use to encourage girls in the fields of mathematics and science. The target audience is teachers and other school personnel with direct contact with students, such as coaches, counselors and principals. The practice guide includes specific recommendations or educators and the quality of evidence that supports these recommendations. (Diane Halpern, Joshua Aronson, Nona Reimer, Sandra Simpkins, Jon Star and Kathryn Wentzel, Institute for Education Science, September 2007)...

Addressing the STEM Challenge by Expanding Specialty Math and Science High Schools - Much attention has lately centered on the issue of American competitiveness in a global economy requiring workers with a quality education in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. This report argues that the role of specialty mathematics and science schools has been overlooked, and that funding the expansion of these specialty schools must be an important part of any solution to the STEM challenge. The report recommends tripling enrollment in math and science high schools to reach 140,000 by 2012. (Robert Atkinson, Janet Hugo, Dennis Lundgren, Martin Shapiro, and Jerald Thomas, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, March 2007)...

A Decade of Action: Sustaining Global Competitiveness - This report synthesizes recommendations from 20 contemporary reports published by business and industry, government agencies and professional organizations. The review panel directed its attention to science and technology education and concluded the signals being sent by business and industry stressed the need for a vision, a first tactical response and a strategic plan outlining the need for clarification of the changes needed. (BSCS, January 2007)...

Accelerating Remedial Math Education: How Institutional Innovation and State Policy Interact - One of the most pressing challenges facing community colleges is improving outcomes for students who place into developmental math courses. This policy brief looks at efforts in three community colleges, two of which are Achieving the Dream institutions, to revamp their remedial math programming. It focuses on the ways in which state and system policies interact with institutional reform efforts—and how policies can either support or slow institutional change. (Radha Roy Biswas, Jobs for the Future, 2007)...

Important, but Not for Me: Parents and Students in Kansas and Missouri Talk About Math, Science and Technology Education - There is growing consensus among the nation's leaders that unless schools do more to train and nurture a whole new generation of young Americans with strong skills in math, science and technology, U.S. leadership in the world economy is at risk. This report finds that just 25% of Kansas/Missouri parents think their children should be studying more math and science; 70% think things "are fine as they are now." The report also explains why parents and students are so complacent in this area and what kinds of changes might be helpful in building more interest in and support for more rigorous mathematics, science and technology courses. (Alison Kadlec, Will Friedman and Amber Ott, Public Agenda, 2007)...