National Summit on the Advancement of Girls in Math and Science

On May 15, U. S. Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation Kathie Olsen welcomed more than 100 female entrepreneurs, explorers, and scientists — as well as as NASSMC Executive Director Jim McMurtray and other invited representatives of organizations that play as key role in the advancement of STEM education — to the first-ever National Summit on the Advancement of Girls in Math and Science.

The Secretary announced a comprehensive review of research (by the Institute of Education Sciences) on how and why girls are turning away from these fields of the future. She also announced a partnership with the Girls Scouts and the Ad Council. Other speakers included
former astronaut Sally Ride who recommended exposing girls to women scientists at a young age, and educating parents on how not to perpetuate stereotypes that girls aren’t as good at mathematics or science as boys.

One of the most immediate deliverables is developing an inventory — housed on a website for public use — of best practices programs, workshops/research, and materials available to teachers, students, and parents. NSF will be taking the lead on this project.

Secretary Spellings also announced the members of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (NMP). The NMP, modeled after the National Reading Panel, will examine and summarize the scientific evidence related to the teaching and learning of mathematics, with a specific focus on preparation for and success in learning algebra. The NMP will issue an interim report by Jan. 31, 2007 and a final report no later than Feb. 28, 2008. These reports will provide policy recommendations on how to improve mathematics achievement for all students.

The House Science Committee introduced three bills on May 11 aimed to strengthen science and mathematics education by bolstering programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Two bills are designed to increase grant programs to assist early-career researchers. The third bill, the Science and Mathematics Education for Competitiveness Act (H.R. 5358) has a number of initiatives that would replace the current Math and Science Partnership program with teacher-training partnerships for in-service K-12 teachers, increase the Noyce scholarships to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduates who commit to teaching, increase the number of students taking STEM in college, and strengthen undergraduate STEM education. Specific porposals include:

• autorization of appropriations for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) at NSF of $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2011. (This program provides grants to institutions of higher education to increase the number of students majoring in STEM fields.)
• establishment of a program at NSF to provide grants to science, mathematics, or engineering departments at institutions of higher education or to eligible nonprofit organizations to establish teacher training partnership programs to improve science and mathematics instruction at the elementary and secondary education levels.

The bill is scheduled to be marked up by the full Science Committee on Thursday, May 25.

A summary, section by section, by NSTA can be see here: science.nsta.org/nstaexpress/nstaexpress_2006_05_22_billsummaries.htm

The Nation's Report Card on Science 2005 Released May 24

This latest report discusses national and state-by-state Student achievement results in grades 4 and 8, and national Results in grade 12. Specifically, the NAEP 2005 assessment in science was administered in schools throughout the country from January to March 2005. National assessments were conducted at grades 4, 8, and 12. State assessments were conducted at grades 4 and 8 only, as was the Trial Urban District Assessment in several large urban districts.

Results of the 2005 Assessment are available at nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/science/

NASA's 2006 Explorer Schools Sustainability Conference, July 5-9

Invitations to participate in NASA's 2006 Explorer Schools Sustainability Conference, July 5-9, 2006 in Huntsville, AL, have recently been sent out. This event will allow the 2004 NES teams to develop strategies to continue and strengthen the process of change initiated as a result of becoming a NASA Explorer School. It also affords an opportunity for state coalition representatives to get to know the NES teams from their state and to advise and inform planning for sustainable improvement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The registration deadline is Friday, May 26.

NES teams from 50 schools in 34 states will learn about developing partnerships with business and state and local agencies to continue their efforts to transform and enhance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction. NASA Explorer Schools represent an investment by NASA in the states and communities where they are located. The work begun to assist these schools need not end with the Explorer Schools program. The NES experience can be used as a catalyst for developing a process of continuous improvement. Also, input and guidance from state coalitions has contributed to improvements in the Explorer Schools program.

NASSMC's NES Partnerships for Sustainability program facilitates assistance by state business, education, policy coalitions to the NES participating schools in the state. Eighteen such formal partnerships have been funded by NASSMC thus far and a new RFP will be issued soon. Partnerships between NASA, the Explorer Schools and the state coalitions have been designed to help participating schools capitalize on the work already begun and to continue to improve.

Along with the serious work of the sustainability conference there is also an opportunity for you or your representative to enjoy a unique Space Camp or Aviation Challenge experience. All travel, meals, and expenses are covered by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Please save the date and make plans for yourself or your designated representative to attend. Please contact Jessica Venable (jvenable@nassmc.org) or Jim McMurtray (jmcmurtray@nassmc.org) for more information about the agenda and registration procedures.