CCSSO Announces New Task Force on Mathematics and Science Education

Contact: Najean Lee najeanl@ccsso.org 202-336-7055

Washington, DC, May 24, 2006 – The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is pleased to announce the newly created Task Force on Mathematics and Science Education. This CCSSO task force has been assembled in order to examine policy and practice to improve mathematics and science education across the P–12 system, particularly at the middle and high school levels. The group of chief state school officers, deputies, practitioners, representatives of the business community, and researchers will work collectively to identify for widespread dissemination current successful models and practices in P–12 mathematics and science education. Furthermore, the task force will seek to identify principles of practice in high-quality professional development and delivery of instruction in P–12 mathematics and science education. CCSSO's Board of Directors agreed at the Legislative Conference in April 2006 to create the Task Force on Mathematics and Science Education. CCSSO President Valerie Woodruff announced this morning the formal creation of this group and its co-chairs Judy Jeffrey, Iowa director of education, and Patricia Wright, Virginia acting superintendent of public instruction. Woodruff remarked, "It is vital that we have a task force that looks closely at the critical issues of math and science. I am delighted that based on nominations from our members around the country we have a strong and diverse group of practitioners and research experts to lead this important work." This morning's release of the NAEP 2005 science results underscores the importance of studying science as well as math, particularly at the middle and high school levels. According to The Nation's Report CardTM Science 2005, since 1996, there has been no improvement at the eight grade level and a notable decline in scores by the time students reach the twelfth grade. The task force will convene its inaugural session on June 7, 2006, in Washington, DC.   CCSSO Task Force on Math and Science Education Members   Chief State School Officer Members Judy Jeffrey (co-chair) Director of Education, Iowa Patricia Wright (co-chair) Acting Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Terry Bergeson Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington Richard Cate Commissioner of Education, Vermont Lucille Davy Acting Commissioner of Education, New Jersey Susan Gendron Commissioner of Education, Maine Additional Members Everly Broadway Secondary Mathematics & Science Consultant, North Carolina Mary Anne Butler Secondary Science Consultant, Connecticut Anita Buckley Commander Director of Classroom Improvement, Alabama Myron Cottam Associate Superintendent, Utah Greg Gallagher Director Education Improvement, North Dakota Lisa Brady Gill Director of Office of Education Policy, Texas Instruments Karen Kidwell Science Consultant, Kentucky Jeremy Kilpatrick Regents Professor of Mathematics Education, University of Georgia Joan Leitzel Director, Ohio Mathematics Initiative, Ohio Frank Marburger Mathematics Education Advisor, Pennsylvania Jorea Marple Assistant Superintendent, West Virginia Michael Padilla President, National Science Teachers Association Stephen Pruitt Science/Mathematics Program Manager, Georgia Michael Roach Mathematics Consultant, Indiana Diane Schaefer Director of Instruction, Rhode Island Cathy Seeley Past President, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Susan Traiman Director of Education and Workforce Policy, Business Roundtable Richard Vineyard   Assistant Director of Assessment, Program Accountability, & Curriculum, Nevada Donna Watts Coordinator for Mathematics, Maryland Timothy Webb Assistant Commissioner, Tennessee Jim Woodland Director of Science Education, Nebraska Sue Wygant Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering Specialist, Minnesota The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks members' consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public.

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document last updated 6/2/2006