TIMSS report cites steady improvements in math scores, but science remains stagnant

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers is encouraged by a report released today which shows that American students in grades four and eight have steadily improved in math and science since 1995, according to the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). 

The most recent TIMSS findings, based on data collected in 2007, show that U.S. fourth- and eighth- graders are making progress in math.  At the fourth grade level, average math scores have consistently improved since 1995, and at the eighth-grade level average scores have held steady since 1999. However, in science, scores have remained flat since 1995 in both grade levels measured.

“I am very pleased that our youngest students are improving in the important subject of math,” said Congressman Ehlers. “However, these indicators are still troubling because the trends show that we need to secure improvements in the later grades, and I am discouraged that we have made no improvement in science in over a decade. Furthermore, the distribution of these data is too wide, suggesting that even though our average is globally competitive, we are still not providing all of our students a high-quality math and science education.

“This international comparison should remind us that we need to continue to set the bar high for our students, especially to make sure they have the skills they need when they graduate from high school. Children in Asian and Europeans countries are still significantly outperforming U.S. students, and it is crucial that our students excel at math and science if we are going to compete successfully against other countries. That is why I plan on reintroducing the Science Accountability Act in the 111th Congress, which will ensure all of our students are learning science. I also plan on reintroducing the Standards to Provide Educational Achievement for Kids (SPEAK) Act, which will create similar voluntary standards and achievement assessments in the subject of mathematics.”

The TIMSS test has been conducted every four years among fourth- and eighth-graders since 1995. In the U.S., the 2007 TIMSS sampled over 10,350 fourth-graders in 257 public and private schools and 9,723 eighth-graders in 239 public and private schools.

More information on the TIMSS is available at http://nces.ed.gov/timss/.