[Federal Register: July 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 139)]
[Notices]
[Page 41347-41349]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy08-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of the Deputy Secretary; Opportunity To Participate in a
National Math Panel Forum To Help Improve the Teaching and Learning of
Mathematics Based on the Findings and Recommendations of the National
Mathematics Advisory Panel's Final Report
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: National Math Panel Forum participation.
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SUMMARY: For students to compete in the 21st-century global economy,
knowledge of and proficiency in mathematics are critical. Today's high
school graduates need to have solid mathematics skills--whether they
are headed to college or to the workforce. To help ensure our nation's
future competitiveness and economic viability, President George W. Bush
created the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (National Math Panel)
in April 2006. The Panel was charged with reviewing the best available
scientific evidence and making recommendations on improving mathematics
education with a focus on readiness for and success in algebra and
mathematics education in grades K-8.
The National Math Panel's final report, Foundations for Success:
Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, was issued on March
13, 2008. The report contains 45 findings and recommendations on
numerous topics, including curricular content, learning processes,
instructional practices and materials, teachers, assessments, and
future research priorities.
In response to a National Math Panel recommendation, the U.S.
Department of Education, in partnership with the Conference Board of
Mathematical Sciences, is hosting a National Math Panel Forum (Forum)
to bring together various organizations and other interested parties to
discuss ways to engage their members or constituents in discussions
about the National Math Panel's findings and recommendations and how
the organizations and parties can collaborate and coordinate efforts to
use the findings to improve mathematics education in the United States.
DATES: Registration to participate in and attend the Forum will open on
July 16, 2008 and close on Friday, August 8, 2008.
Forum Dates:
Monday, October 6, 2008--Evening Reception--(Times to be
determined).
Tuesday, October 7, 2008--Forum--
[[Page 41348]]
(Times to be determined).
Location: Washington, DC area. (The National Math Panel Web site,
http://www.ed.gov/MathPanel, will be updated when the exact location
and times have been set for the Forum. Those who expressed interest in
participating will be notified of the update).
Registration Process: Interested organizations and parties should
complete an online registration form. The registration form is located
at: http://www.ed.gov/MathPanel and will be available at the start of
registration on July 16, 2008. Correspondence should be sent via e-mail
or fax to: National Math Panel Forum, c/o Ida Eblinger Kelley, Office
of Communications and Outreach, U.S. Department of Education, e-mail:
NationalMathPanel@ed.gov, FAX: 202-205-9133; or c/o William McCallum,
Chair, Conference Board of Mathematics Sciences, e-mail:
wmc@math.arizona.edu.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On March 13, 2008, the National Math Panel presented its final
report to the President and the Secretary of Education. During the
course of two years, expert panelists, including a number of leading
mathematicians, cognitive psychologists, and educators, reviewed more
than 16,000 research publications and policy reports and received
public testimony from 110 individuals. In addition, the Panel reviewed
commentary from 160 organizations and individuals, and analyzed survey
results from 743 active teachers of algebra before preparing the final
report with policy advice on how to improve mathematics achievement for
all students in the United States.
The National Math Panel's final report calls on the nation to
improve the ``delivery system in mathematics education--the system that
translates mathematical knowledge into value and ability for the next
generation.'' Furthermore, the report states:
``Positive results can be achieved in a reasonable time at
accessible cost, but a consistent, wise, community-wide effort will
be required. Education in the United States has many participants in
many locales--teachers, students, and parents; state school
officers, school board members, superintendents, and principals;
curriculum developers, textbook writers, and textbook editors; those
who develop assessment tools; those who prepare teachers and help
them to continue their development; those who carry out relevant
research; association leaders and government officials at the
federal, state, and local levels. All carry responsibilities. All
can be important to success.
``The network of these many participants is linked through
interacting national associations. A coordinated national approach
toward improved mathematics education will require an annual forum
of their leaders for at least a decade. The Panel recommends that
the U.S. Secretary of Education take the lead in convening the forum
initially, charge it to organize in a way that will sustain an
effective effort, and request a brief annual report on the mutual
agenda adopted for the year ahead.''
To read the National Math Panel's final report and Reports of the Task
Groups and Subcommittees please visit: http://www.ed.gov/MathPanel.
Goals of the Forum
To answer the National Math Panel's call to build a sustained
effort to improve mathematics education, the U.S. Department of
Education and the Conference Board of Mathematical Sciences are
requesting educational, scholarly, business, and community
organizations and other interested parties to participate in a Forum
with the goal of creating a network or networks committed to taking
steps for the years to come to improve mathematics education, using the
findings and recommendations of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel
as a platform for action.
The long-term goal of this effort is to improve the teaching and
learning of mathematics in order to prepare our students to succeed in
algebra and higher-level mathematics by addressing the National Math
Panel's evidence-based findings and recommendations. The ultimate goal
is to ensure that U.S. children have the skills to pursue careers in
mathematics and sciences, as well as to compete in this increasingly
competitive global economy as informed citizens.
Forum Focus
The Forum in October will be the first in a series of forums.
Understanding that the panel's findings are extensive and cover many
areas, this initial Forum will focus on four of the seven National Math
Panel recommendation topics. These topics include the following:
--Teachers and Teacher Education
--Learning Processes
--Instructional Materials
--Research Policies and Mechanisms
Other topics, including Curricular Content, Instructional Practices,
and Assessment, may also be discussed during the Forum and will be
addressed in future forums.
Individuals who will need accommodations for a disability in order
to attend the forum (e.g., interpreting services, assistance listening
devices, or materials in alternative format) should notify Ida Kelley
at (202) 401-6143 or Ida.Kelley@ed.gov no later than Friday, September
12, 2008. We will attempt to meet requests for accommodations after
this date but cannot guarantee their availability. The forum site is
accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Participation
All interested organizations and parties committed to improving the
teaching and learning of mathematics in this country are encouraged to
participate in the Forum. Participants will be asked to complete online
registration materials that address the following:
--A description of the specific steps or actions the organization or
party is planning, or will plan, to take, building on the platform of
the National Math Panel's findings and recommendations related to the
four topics listed above;
--A brief statement of why the organization or party is interested in
participating, along with a description of the organization's or
party's resources to carry out the plan, including existing programs or
efforts that could support the goals of the Forum; and
--A commitment to send a team of 2-4 individuals to the Forum.
Organizations that seek to participate in the Forum should submit their
registration by August 8, 2008, at http://www.ed.gov/MathPanel.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: National Math Panel Forum, c/o Ida
Eblinger Kelley, Office of Communications and Outreach, U.S. Department
of Education, E-mail: NationalMathPanel@ed.gov, Phone: 202-401-6143,
FAX: 202-205-9133, or c/o William McCallum, Conference Board of
Mathematical Sciences, e-mail: wmc@math.arizona.edu.
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/
index.html.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code
[[Page 41349]]
of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://
www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Raymond Simon,
Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education.
[FR Doc. E8-16423 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P