Improving the Math and Science Curriculum: Choices for State Policymasters. Report on the Secretary's Conference on Improving Mathematics and Science Education, December 1991.

In December 1991, the first of a series of Secretary's Conferences on Improving Mathematics and Science Education was held in Washington, D.C., to discuss methods of attaining the fourth National Education Goal of being the world leader in mathematics and science education by the year 2000 as set by President Bush and the nation's governors. More than 250 state policymakers and representatives of national policymaking groups, the business community, and the federal government participated in the conference. This document reports the educational issues, key policy questions, and concrete ideas that state leaders can use to reform mathematics and science curricula. Following a foreword and an executive summary, the report is divided into seven sections. The first section identifies four areas that can be affected by state leadership and reports opening remarks made to the conference by Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander. The second and third sections identify and define what "world class standards" of education means, citing results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for mathematics and science achievement and reporting remarks by the National Science Foundation Director, Walter Massey. The fourth section shares the responses to the challenge to be first made by the states of New Jersey, Vermont, and California and reports the results of panel discussions on state curriculum standards and frameworks. The fifth section describes resources available to state policymakers to help develop strategies for curriculum reform. The sixth section reports the recommendations made by the Secretary's Conference, that state leaders should: (1) continually state for the public the reasons for higher standards for all students; (2) tap the best thinking and practices across the country; (3) work with all the key players; (4) understand that systemic reform is the only way to arrive at higher standards and performance; (5) commit themselves to using whatever leverage is available for creating higher standards; and (6) acknowledge that the reforms needed to fulfill this National Goal will require time and consistent support. The final section acknowledges the presenters and moderators for their contributions to the conference. (MDH)