McKeon: Science Results Underscore Need for Continued Focus During NCLB Reauthorization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the release of urban fourth and eighth grade science assessment results, U.S. House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today called for a continued focus on student achievement in science as Congress reauthorizes the No Child Left Behind education reform law next year. 

The assessment results of 10 large, urban school districts that voluntarily participated in the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in science were released this morning, showing that students in these 10 districts scored at or below national public school averages in science.  The assessment is the first to measure urban student achievement in science.  Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, No Child Left Behind will ask states to assess student achievement in science at least once in each of three grade spans (3-5, 6-9, and 10-12) each year.

“These results will help provide Congress an important benchmark for achievement in science as we move toward reauthorization of No Child Left Behind next year,” said McKeon.  “For the benefit of our public school students today – as well as the long-term global competitiveness of our nation – it is clear that a continued focus on raising achievement in science is not just important, but among our very top education priorities.”

McKeon continued, “As the Education & the Workforce Committee continues our series of hearings on No Child Left Behind at the start of the 110th Congress, I’ll look forward to working with Representative Miller, Representative Castle, and others on our panel to tackle this important challenge.”

The 2005 assessment was administered by the National Center for Education Statistics in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Diego.  All 10 districts have large minority and low-income student populations which demonstrated science achievement similar to their peers nationwide.  Specifically, the results showed fourth graders in seven of these 10 districts scoring as well or better than their public school counterparts in other large cities across the nation, with the same holding true for eighth graders in six of the 10 districts. 

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