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Media Advisory 06-015
Redesigning High School Science Curriculum to Meet the Demands of Global Competition
College Board and the National Science Foundation Host Discussion
April 26, 2006
Recent studies indicate that U.S. high school students continue to slip further behind other nations in their ability to apply scientific concepts and skills. One major exception are Advanced Placement students, who score at or near the top of international exams and are much more likely than their peers to pursue college majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Because these AP science courses are preparing the next generation of U.S. scientists, the National Science Foundation recently awarded a grant to the College Board. The grant will be used to develop a process, based on the recommendations of the National Research Council, for making ongoing changes to the Advanced Placement science courses and exams to incorporate the latest science developments and leverage best practices in the teaching of science.
As our nation's leaders are placing new emphasis on economic competitiveness and the importance of improving science education in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools, please join Dr. Arden Bement, Jr., director of the National Science Foundation, and Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, for a panel discussion about what it will really take for educators to meet the demands of global competition and rapid advances in scientific discovery.
The discussion will focus on how science course content and classroom practice must change to prepare students for successful college careers in the STEM fields, while also tackling persistent performance gaps among racial and ethnic groups.
| WHEN: |
Tuesday, May 2 |
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12:30pm - 1:30pm |
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Lunch will be served |
| WHERE: |
The Science Committee Room, 2325 Rayburn House Office Building |
| WHO: |
Moderator: |
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Jay Mathews, Education Columnist, The Washington Post |
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Panelists: |
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David Ely, Advanced Placement Biology Teacher, Champlain Valley Union High School (Hinesburg, VT) |
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Shirley Malcom, Head, Education and Human Resources, American Association for the Advancement of Science |
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James Pellegrino, Distinguished Professor, Cognitive Psychology and Education, University of Illinois at Chicago |
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Judy Wurtzel, Senior Fellow, Education & Society Program, The Aspen Institute |
| RSVP: |
Lydia Pelliccia 202-667-0901 or Lydia.pelliccia@widmeyer.com |
-NSF-
Media Contacts
M. Mitchell Waldrop, NSF (703) 292-7752 mwaldrop@nsf.gov
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that
supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and
engineering, with an annual budget of $6.06 billion. NSF funds reach all 50
states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year,
NSF receives about 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over
11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in
professional and service contracts yearly.
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