Trends in International Mathematics & Science Study (TIMSS) 2011

"TIMSS is used to compare over time the mathematics and science knowledge and skills of fourth- and eighth-graders. TIMSS is designed to align broadly with mathematics and science curricula in the participating countries. The results, therefore, suggest the degree to which students have learned mathematics and science concepts and skills likely to have been taught in school. In 2011, there were 54 countries and 20 other educational systems that participated in TIMSS, at the fourth- or eighth-grade level, or both.

The results show improvement at grade 4 in reading since 2006, when PIRLS was last administered, and in mathematics since 2007, when TIMSS was last administered. Eighth-graders’ average scores held steady in both mathematics and science since the last TIMSS administration in 2007, as did fourth-graders’ average scores in science." IES Newsflash & NCES Statement on PIRLS 2011 and TIMSS 2011

The State of State Science Standards 2012

From the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, the State of State Science Standards 2012 is an analysis and comparison of science standards State-by-State. Michigan gets ranked solidly in the middle with a grade of C (an improvement over its 2005 grade of D). California, Indiana, Virginia, South Carolina and Massachusetts lead the states in the A range, although all the foregoing states excluding California have been downgraded from their 2005 Grade of A to A-.

Vocabulary Results from the 2009 and 2011 NAEP Reading Assessments

Vocabulary Results from the 2009 and 2011 NAEP Reading Assessments are now available. Generally, reading scores for 4th graders remain unchanged, and 8th graders score higher. Detroit tied with the District of Columbia for the 2 lowest positions in a comparison of 8th grade scores for arge city districts. However, the score gaps between higher- and lower-income students in Dallas, Detroit, Houston, and New York city were smaller than the score gap for large cities overall.

Enrollment, Student Financial Aid and Graduation Rates in Postsecondary Institutions

NCES Releases New Data on Postsecondary Enrollment, Graduation Rates, and Student Financial Aid
"By extending the time students were tracked for program completion from within 100 percent of normal time to within 200 percent of normal time, graduation rates for undergraduates who were full-time, first-time students in 2007 increased from 21 percent to 37 percent at 2-year institutions and from 46 percent to 69 percent at less-than-2-year institutions, according to new data released by the National Center for Education Statistics." IES Newsflash

Career/Techincal Education (CTE) Statistics

The CTE Statistics website includes tables describing CTE at three levels: (1) secondary/high school CTE, (2) postsecondary/college career education, and (3) adult education for work. These tables are updated periodically to incorporate new CTE-related topics and data from new surveys.

Higher Education: Gaps in Access and Persistence Study

A new report, Higher Education: Gaps in Access and Persistence, from NCES documents the "scope and nature of gaps in access and persistence in higher education by sex and race/ethnicity." 

Condition of Education 2012 Released

"The Condition of Education 2012 summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 49 indicators on the status and condition of education, in addition to a closer look at high schools in the United States over the past twenty years.." IES Newsflash, May 24, 2012 

Enrollment, Financial Statistics and Graduation Rates in Postsecondary Institutions

This First Look report presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) spring 2011 data collection. This collection included five components: Student Financial Aid for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students for the 2009-10 academic year; Enrollment for fall 2010; Graduation Rates within 150 percent of normal program completion time for full-time, first-time degree/ certificate-seeking undergraduate students beginning college in 2004 at 4-year institutions or in 2007 at less-than-4-year institutions; Graduation Rates within 200 percent of normal program completion time for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students beginning college in 2002 at 4-year institutions or in 2006 at less-than-4-year institutions; and Finance for fiscal year 2010.

2011 Math & Reading Assessments: Nation's Report Card

Visit The Nation's Report Card to see recently released Mathematics and Reading assessment results.

Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the US

A new report updating the NCES series on high school dropout and completion rates.

New IES Report: Comparative Indicators of Education in the US and other G-8 Countries

This report describes key education outcomes and contexts of education in the G-8 in five topical areas: population and school enrollment, academic performance, contexts for learning, expenditures for education, and educational attainment and income. Results are drawn from the OECD)ongoing Indicators of Education Systems, as well as the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is also coordinated by the OECD.

The Condition of Education 2011

Has been released in e-book format for Kindle, ipad, Nook and more, along with its traditional PDF format. The Condition of Education 2011 "summarized important developments and trends in education using the latest available data."

ChildStats.gov release America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2011

Indicators for 22 federal agencies and partners make up this report America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2011.

Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools

From the School Survey on Crime and Safety, NCES presents this report that provides a first look report at the findings.

Important points:

During the 2009–10 school year, the rate of violent incidents per 1,000 students was higher in middle schools (40 incidents) than in primary schools or high schools (21 incidents each).

Some 10 percent of city schools reported at least one gang-related crime, a higher percentage than that reported by suburban (5 percent), town (4 percent), or rural schools (2 percent).

A higher percentage of middle schools reported that student bullying occurred at school daily or at least once a week (39 percent) than did high schools or primary schools (20 percent each).

Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in U.S. Public Schools

From the School Survey on Crime and Safety, NCES presents this report that provides a first look report at the findings.

Important points:

During the 2009–10 school year, the rate of violent incidents per 1,000 students was higher in middle schools (40 incidents) than in primary schools or high schools (21 incidents each).

Some 10 percent of city schools reported at least one gang-related crime, a higher percentage than that reported by suburban (5 percent), town (4 percent), or rural schools (2 percent).

A higher percentage of middle schools reported that student bullying occurred at school daily or at least once a week (39 percent) than did high schools or primary schools (20 percent each).

The Condition of Education 2011

The National Center for Education Statistics, released The Condition of Education 2011, presenting 50 indicators on demographics, resources and outcomes associated with US schools and education.

Report findings include:

• In 2007-08, about three-quarters of the 2003-04 freshman class graduated with a regular diploma from public high schools.

• From 2000 to 2009, undergraduate enrollment in postsecondary institutions increased from 13 million students to 18 million. During this period, undergraduate enrollment in private for-profit institutions quadrupled – from 0.4 million students in 2000 to 1.6 million in 2009.

• Between 1975 and 2010, the percentages of White, Black and Hispanic 25- to 29-year-olds who had a bachelor’s degree increased. Yet, during this period, the gap in bachelor’s degree attainment between Blacks and Whites increased from 13 to 19 percentage points, and the gap between Whites and Hispanics increased from 15 to 25 percentage points.

To view the full report please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2011033

Education Secretary reports 82% of schools could be labeled as failing

During a House Education Committee hearing on March 9, the Department of Education's 2012 budget request, Arne Duncan reports on the state of education and the need for NCLB reform. You can watch the hearing here:  C-SPAN.org Sec. Duncan Defends TY2012 Education Budget

NCES Report Released: Indicators of School Crime and Safety 2010

The Indicators of School Crime and Safety 2010 "report covers topics such as victimization, teacher injury, bullying, school conditions, fights, weapons, availability and student use of drugs and alcohol, and student perceptions of personal safety at school. Indicators of crime and safety are compared across different population subgroups and over time. Data on crimes that occur away from school are offered as a point of comparison where available." IES Newsflash

Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts in the US

"The Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts report provides basic information from the Common Core of Data about the nation's largest public school districts in the 2008-09 school year. The data include such characteristics as the number of students and teachers, number of high school completers and the averaged freshman graduation rate, and revenues and expenditures." Data from Detroit Public Schools (listed in the report as Detroit City School District) is included in this report. As reported in IES Newsflash

Graduation and Dropout Rates 2007-08 from NCES

"Nationwide, 75 percent of public high school students who started as freshmen in the fall of 2004 graduated high school in 2008—up from 74 percent who graduated on time in the spring of 2007.

Other findings include:

• The Average Freshmen Graduation Rate increased by at least 1 percentage point in 16 states and the District of Columbia.
• Four percent of high school students dropped out of school during the 2007–08 school year. This marks a decrease of at least half a percentage point for 14 states and the District of Columbia from 2006-07."

To view the full report please visit
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010341
Source: NCES Newsflash