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Publication #FAR1710

 

U.S. Math Scores Not Keeping Up Globally1

Donna Davis2

Figure 1. 
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One of the greatest parenting challenges I experienced when my children were younger was helping them with math homework. Many parents like me have heard their children say, "But why do I need to do this? I'm never going to use it!"

If you need help, Drexel University's http://mathforum.org has numerous links that can help you answer that question for your children as they can see the use of math in daily tasks, in numerous career opportunities—even in art. And, if indeed math skills are necessary for our children to compete in a global economy, much less the local job market, recent research funded by the Department of Education might have parents concerned. According to the report from the American Institutes for Research, U.S. math students are consistently performing below their peers when compared to 11 other industrialized nations, including Australia, Japan, and the Russian Federation. The study assessed students in grades 4 and 8 as well as 15-year-olds. The students ranked 8 or 9 out of twelve at all three grade levels.

The study also found that students who score well on higher-level skills, such as mathematical reasoning, also perform better at lower-level skills. Compared to other countries, U.S. students didn't score well on questions at either skill level. While educators are looking at solutions for math students, parents may also consider how they can help the next time their child asks for help with math homework.

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

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References

American Institutes for Research. (2005). New study finds U.S. math students consistently behind their peers around the world. Retrieved January 1, 2006, from http://www.air.org/news/documents/release200511math.htm.

American Institutes for Research.(2005). Reassessing U.S. international mathematics performance: New findings from the 2003 TIMSS and PISA. Retrieved January 1, 2006, from http://www.air.org/news/documents/TIMSS_PISA%20math%20study.pdf.

Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR1710, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 365 in January 2007. Published on EDIS September 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Donna Davis, senior producer, Family Album Radio, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.