(Spanish version here)
Less than 1/2 of the nation’s students are at or above the proficient level in science, the Nation’s Report Card shows.
The 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)—also known as The Nation’s Report Card released this week) shows 34 percent of the nation’s fourthgraders, 30 percent of eighth-graders, and 21 percent of twelfth-graders are performing at or above the Proficient level in science.
That means that less than one-half of students are demonstrating solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter.
Partial mastery of the prerequisite knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work was demonstrated by 72 percent of students performing at or above the Basic level at grade 4, 63 percent at grade 8, and 60 percent at grade 12.
“These results shed light on the critical need to ensure that all students have a strong foundation in science,” said David Driscoll, chairman of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees policy for NAEP. “Science helps students further their understanding of our world, enabling them to connect ideas across disciplines and making them better problem solvers.”
The assessment, administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), was given to 156,500 fourth-graders, 151,100 eighth-graders, and 11,100 twelfth-graders. Assessment questions measured students’ knowledge and abilities in the areas of physical science, life science, and Earth and space sciences.
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