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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