Girls: Math and Science Achievement

GIRLS: MATH AND SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT

CRITICAL ISSUES AND TRENDS

Mastering mathematics gives students an advantage in academics and in the job market.
Students of all income levels who take rigorous mathematics and science courses in high school are more likely to go to college, and among low-income students (students in the bottom third of the income distribution), the difference is particularly dramatic.
Girls still score below boys on the mathematics section of the SAT's.
Parent and teacher involvement may make a large difference in students' decisions about mathematics and science.
Girls are participating in advanced math courses comparably to boys. However, this trend does not include advanced science courses.
Many girls who take advanced math and science courses in high school do not continue with these courses in college.
While jobs requiring science, math and technological skills are growing at nearly double the rate of all jobs, women and people of color are still significantly under-represented in fields requiring advanced degrees in math and science.
Lack of confidence, lack of role models, and lack of encouragement from adults appear to be factors in the under-representation of women in math and science majors as well as the professions, as well as in computer science programs and careers.

MID-ATLANTIC CENTER MATERIALS ON MATH AND SCIENCE

Report Card #3: Gender Bias in Mathematics, Science and Technology
Mathematics and Science: Critical Filters for the Future of Minority and Female Students (updated 1998)
Opening the the Mathematics and Science Filters: Our Schools Did It, So Can Yours! A Nine Step Guide to Increasing Minority Student Participation
Introducing African American Role Models into Mathematics and Science Lesson Plans: Grades K-6

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Curriculum Materials and Model Programs in Math and Science:

McFarland, Susan Massaro. Girls: Math, Science and Technology. A Handbook for K-12 Teachers and Parents. Stanton, MI: Life Enrichment Seminars, 1997.
E-mail: smcfarland@sl.montcalm.cc.ini.us

Resek, Diane, Fendel Dan, Fraser, Sherry, Alper, Lynne.
The Interactive Mathematics Program (IMP), Grades K-12.
Janice Bussey
IMP Outreach Coordinator
Phone: (888) 628-4467
E-mail: jbimp@telis.org

Curriculum Research and Development Group, Developmental Approaches in Science. Health and Technology (DASH), Grades K-6.
Donald B. Young
Associate Director
Phone: (800) 799-8111
E-Mail:young@hawaii.edu
Website: www2.hawaii.edu/crdg/science/dash /dash.html

Mid-Continental Regional Educational Laboratory
Comprehensive School Mathematics Program (K-6).
Clare Heidema
Phone: (303) 337-3005
E-Mail: cheidema@mcrel.org
Website: www.mcrel.org/csmp

Thorsen, Carolyn C.
InGEAR, (Integrating Gender Equity and Reform), 1995.
E-mail: carolyn.thorsen@ceismc.gatech.edu.
Website: www.ceismc.gatech.e du/ceismc/programs/ingear/gear.htm

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES

The National Regional Consortia and National Clearinghouse on Mathematics and Science Education
Phone: (800) 362-4448
Website: www.enc.org

Eisenhower Regional Consortium for Mathematics and Science Education at AEL
P.O. Box 1348, Charleston, WV 25325-1348 (304) 347-0400
E-Mail: aelinfo@ael.org
Mid-Atlantic Eisenhower Consorium for Mathematics & Science Education
Research for Better Schools
444 Third Street
Philadelphia, PA 191223-4107
(215) 574-9300 ext. 279
E-Mail: mathsci@rbs.org

The WEEA (Women's Educational Equity Act) Resource Center
Educational Development Center, Inc.
55 Chapel Street-C97
Newton, MA 02158-1960
Phone: (800) 793-5076
E-mail: WEEApub@EDC.org
Website: www.edc.org/WomensEquity

Girl TECH
Website: math.rice.edu/~lanius/club/girls.html

Center for Research on Parallel Computation (CRPC)
Website: www.crpc.rice.edu/CRPC/education/resources.html

The Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Collection
Website: www.learner.org

The Collaboration for Equity: Fairness in Science and Mathematics Education
E-mail: egavilla@aaas.org

TERC is organized into four project-based centers: Mathematics, Research, Science and Tools for Learning
Website: www.terc.edu