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American fourth-graders' average score on a world science test: below Singapore but above Italy.

The test that every four years makes Americans feel bad about the kids these days, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, is out with new results, not all of them bad: Fourth- and eighth-graders appear to be improving in math, and bottom performers made the most gains.

But in both grades, Americans remain stagnant in the (much less tested) subject of science. This is a good time to ask whether science gets enough attention. From the Christian Science Monitor:

The US still performs better in science than the average among TIMSS countries, but the lack of progress underscores what some educators and others say is a pressing need to give more attention to science education in this country, in addition to the emphasis on reading and math.

In spite of numerous reports, “many districts simply do not value science education,” reads a statement released Tuesday by the National Science Teachers Association in Virginia. “Science is being eliminated from many K-6 classrooms,” it says.

Recall that the city Department of Education recently rolled out new science curriculum in response to concerns that science was being sidelined in favor of tested subjects. But it then delayed creating tests to match the curriculum — for two years in a row.

The results are also a good reminder that, no matter how frustrating it is that American students are behind several nations, they are not behind everyone — not by far. (more…)

A committee of 11 outside experts hired by the city gives a series of tests to New York school children. The experts insist that their tests are different because they measure growth of individual children on a specific set of skills, and tout their study as “the most successful attempt at scientific measurement in education.”

The results show that the schools are “inefficient” in educating the students, whose abilities vary greatly. The report calls for differentiation:

Only 40 percent of 4th graders performed at an “average” level on the standardized math tests. Furthermore, in all areas except speed, they compared poorly to students in other cities.

Sound familiar? Guess the year in the comments — and no Googling! We’ll post the answer next Wednesday. Complete article is after the jump… (more…)