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Pennsylvania STEM Vital Signs
ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS We evaluated Pennsylvanias academic expectations in math bycomparing the proficiency rates on the state test with the proficiencyrates on NAEP. When NAEP results are far worse than the resultson the state test, the state might have low academic expectations.
Does Pennsylvania have high academic expectations of itsstudents?Much smaller percentages of Pennsylvaniastudents were proficient on
NAEP than on Pennsylvaniastate tests.
Sources: NAEP, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2009.Paul Peterson, State Standards Rise in Reading, Fall in Math,Education
Next,fall 2010.
STATE STANDARDS AND TESTSStrong academic standards and tests are a critical foundation forteaching and learning. Forty-three states have agreed to adoptCommon Core State Standards in math, and all of those states havejoined state consortia to develop tests aligned to those standards. Anational evaluation recently gave Common Cores math standards an
A-minus for their quality.
Has Pennsylvaniaadopted Common Core State Standardsin math?Yes Has Pennsylvaniajoined a state testing consortium?Yes How do Pennsylvaniamath standards fare ona national evaluation? F
Sources: Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2011.
Achieve, Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers,
2011.
Fordham Foundation, The State of State Standardsand the Common Corein
2010.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT
GAPS
Student performance varies widely within and among states. NAEPallows states to compare themselves against other states, measureachievement gaps among different groups of students and trackstudents improvement over time.
How do Pennsylvania students compare nationally?
Source: NAEP, 2009.
* Pennsylvania was not among the 11 states that participated in NAEPs 12th
grad
State Pilot Program for Mathematics in 2009.
How large are achievement gaps among demographic groups?
Source: NAEP, 2009.
Change the Equation is a national coalition of more than 110corporate CEOs who are committed to improving science,technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning forevery child, with a particular focus on girls and students of color.
82%71%
46%40%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
4th Grade
Math
8th Grade
Math
Percentage(%)of
studentss
coringator
aboveproficient
2009 State
Assessment
2009 National
Assessment (NAEP)
53%45% 48% 42%
23%18%
12%7%
17%13%
7% 7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
4th Grade
Math
8th Grade
Math
4th Grade
Science
8th Grade
Science
2009 NAEP: Percentage of Pennsylvania Students at or
Above Proficient
White
Hispani
Black
2009 NAEP: Percentage of Students at or Above Proficient
Pennsylvania U.S.Average of To
States
4th
grade math 46% 38% 56% (MA, MN
8th grade math 40% 33% 48% (MA, MN12
thgrade math N/A* 25% 33% (MA, NH,
4th
grade science 38% 32% 46% (MA, NH,
8th
grade science 35% 29% 42% (MA, MT,
The future of Pennsylvania depends on its ability to boost student performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Youngpeople in Pennsylvania will increasingly face stiff competition for jobs from people across the world, and to succeed in the global economy, students wneed a much stronger foundation in STEM subject areas.
In this STEM Vital Signs report, Change the Equation has compiled critical data on the condition of STEM learning in Pennsylvania. We provide thesdata to inform vigorous conversations about what it will take to improve STEM learning in the state. While there are no silver bullet fixes, the state canboost student outcomes by focusing on some key areas. For example:
Raise the bar on state tests.The Pennsylvaniastate testrates 82percent of the states 4thgraders as proficient in math. Thatsfar more than the 46 percent of Pennsylvan
4thgraders who score proficient on the National Assessment of Educational Progress(NAEP), which sets a consistent bar for student performa
across the statesand tracks international assessments. Focus on achievement gaps.
Like all U.S. states, Pennsylvania has large achievement gaps between students of color and white students. Closing those gaps is both a mora
and an economic imperative. The state should continually ensure that its policies target the diverse learning needs of all students, especially
those who face the biggest hurdles, without diluting expectations.
Foster more engaging science instruction.Large percentages of Pennsylvaniastudentssay they seldom design science experiments or write reports about science projects. Strategies fo
addressing this problem include providing professional development and classroom materials to help teachers get their studentsfullyengaged
science.
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STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT
GAPS (CONTINUED)
Is student performance improving in math*?NAEP scale scores give states a way to tracktrends in student
performance. NAEP scores in math range from 0 to 500. The average
national score for 4thgrade math is 240, and the average for 8thgrade
math is 283. The tables below compare progress in Pennsylvania to
progress in the most improved states.
4th
grade math
PA NAEP Scale Score Change since 1996
1996 2003 2009 Pennsylvania
Most
Improved
State
All 226 236 244 +18 +32 (DC)
White 231 243 249 +18 +26 (MA)
Black 197 212 223 +26 +35 (FL)
Hispanic 202 216 227 +25 +38 (DE)
8th
grade math
PA NAEP Scale Score Change since 1996
1996 2003 2009 Pennsylvania
Most
Improved
State(s)All N/A 279 288 N/A +21 (DC,
MA)
White N/A 285 294 N/A +22 (MA)
Black N/A 247 260 N/A +28 (FL)
Hispanic N/A 253 266 N/A +39 (DC)Source: NAEP, 2009. N/A denotes insufficient data for analysis.
* The NAEP science tests were revised for 2009, making comparisons with
prior years invalid.
What percentage of 9th graders graduates from high school infour years?
Pennsylvania: 78% U.S.: 69%Source: Editorial Projects in Education, 2011. Data for school year 2006-07.
TEACHING AND LEARNINGAll students should carry out and reflect on engaging scienceprojects. Yet many U.S. 4th and 8th graders say they hardly ever do.
This table lays out what Pennsylvania students say about math andscience in their schools.
Percentage of Pennsylvania 4th grade students who report that:Pennsylvania U.S.
They often or almost always like math 64% 63%
They often or almost always think math work is too easy 41% 38%
They never or hardly ever do activities or projects in
science20% 23%
They never or hardly ever talk about results of science
projects35% 36%
They never or hardly ever write reports about a scienceproject
53% 55%
Percentage of Pennsylvania 8th grade students who report that:Pennsylvania U.S.
They agree or strongly agree that they like math 67% 64%
They often or almost always think math work is too
easy30% 29%
They never or hardly ever design a science experiment 43% 39%
They never or hardly ever watch their teacher do an
experiment21% 24%
They never or hardly ever write reports on science
projects51% 47%
Source: NAEP, 2009.
PREPARING FOR AND SUCCEEDING IN COLLEGThe U.S. faces a shortage of 3 million college graduates by 2018,because U.S. students attend and graduate from college at low ratesStates that do not meet the demand for college-educated workersmay forfeit vital opportunities for economic growth.
What percentage of students takes Advanced Placement testsin math and science, and how do they do?
Source: College Board, AP Report to the Nation, 2011. Data for class of 2010.
What percentage of students attends and graduates fromcollege?
Pennsylvania U
Percentage of associates degree candidateswho graduate within three years of enrolling
39% 28
Percentage of bachelors degree candidates
who graduate within six years of enrolling
65% 56
Percentage of all 18-24 year olds enrolled in
college
40% 36
Source: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, 2008.
What percentage of bachelors degrees conferred inPennsylvania is in STEM fields?
Pennsylvania: 17% U.S.: 15%
Source: NCES, 2009 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, fall 2009. D
for school year 2008-09.
TEACHERSTeachers have the most significant impact on student learning amoschool-based factors. It is critical that math and science teachers haa strong academic background in the subjects they teach.
Where does Pennsylvania set the passing score on elementarycontent licensure tests?
Below the average score for all test takers.
Source: National Council on Teacher Quality, 2010.
What percentage of 8th graders have teachers with a major orminor in math?
Pennsylvania: 61% U.S.: 57%
Source: NAEP, 2009.
For more information on data sources for this report, see
www.changetheequation.org/vitalsigns.
7%
10%
7%
10%
5% 6%4%
5%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
PA
Math
US
Math
PA
Science
US
Science
Percentage of
seniors leaving hig
school having take
an AP exam
Percentage of
seniors leaving hig
school scoring 3 or
more on those
exams
Pennsylvania