Trends in Math and Science Study
The most widely recognized survey of student achievement across the globe in math and in the sciences is called Trends In International Math and Science Survey, or more commonly TIMSS (formerly The Third International Math and Science Study). This survey examines grades 1-12 and is administered in several countries at the same time. I became familiar with TIMSS a few years ago in the midst of the confusing changes made in the area of middle school math in Portage.
I spoke with a TIMSS project director this week in reference to our district's science curriculum. I described the move to one-semester courses for the first two years to be followed by an elective full-year option for the last two years, and inquired about other US school districts or systems abroad with high achievement. "Do any of these use such a model"? After a moment's silence the project director stated that the direction is quite the opposite in high achieving societies. These, I was told have rigorous coursework beginning in middle school. The project director, who has been with TIMSS for five years, could think of no model wherein high achievement had been attained by moving coursework from Middle school into high school. Yet the Portage School Board's decision as I understand it moves Earth Science from a full year in the 8th grade to a 6-month sequence in the 9th grade, and replaces the rigor of our 11th grade Physics class (with its use of higher mathematics and challenging content making it a badge of honor to our students who work hard to perform well in it) with a 9th grade sequence of half-year concepts. That this Superintendent and School Board have made this move with no regard to the data in the TIMSS study and with no explanation to the parents in this community is not short of a breach of our trust in them.
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