[Originally published on FB May 22, 2012.]
The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides reliable and timely data on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. 4th- and 8th-grade students compared to that of students in other countries. TIMSS data have been collected in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007.
The TIMSS International Data Explorer (IDE) is now available for users to create their own tables and charts, and perform statistical tests with data from TIMSS 2007. The TIMSS IDE is modeled after the NAEP Data Explorer and functions the same way. Data from earlier rounds of TIMSS will be added in the near future. The TIMSS IDE can be accessed here.
In 2011, more than 60 countries and jurisdictions, including the United States, will participate in TIMSS. More than 20,000 students in more than 1,000 schools across the United States will take the assessment in spring 2011, joining almost 500,000 other students around the world taking part in TIMSS. Because the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) will also be administered at grade four in spring 2011, TIMSS and PIRLS in the United States will be administered in the same schools to the extent feasible. Students will take either TIMSS or PIRLS on the day of the assessments.
In addition, to address the interest in states benchmarking to international standards, NCES is initiating a new effort to link the states scores from the national assessment—NAEP-- to TIMSS. The 2011 NAEP-TIMSS Linking Study is designed to provide all states with estimates that compare their own students’ performance against international benchmarks.
For more eye-watering drivel go to: http://nces.ed.gov/timss/
Wow that sure was a mouthful, but let’s look at some other facts and see if there is any comparison.
First, the Department of Education (AKA Department of Non-Education, DOE/DONE) was formed under the outstanding leadership of President Jimmy Carter. As of 1979, the Office of Education had 3,000 employees and an annual budget of $12 billion. Congress appropriated to the Department of Education an annual budget of $14.2 billion and 17,000 employees when establishing the Department of Education.
Currently the Department of Non-Education administers a budget of $68.1 billion in discretionary appropriations (including discretionary Pell Grant funding) and operates programs that touch on every area and level of education. The Department's elementary and secondary programs annually serve nearly 16,000 school districts and approximately 49 million students attending more than 98,000 public schools and 28,000 private schools. Department programs also provide grant, loan, and work-study assistance to more than 15 million postsecondary students.
That said, it is important to point out that education in America is primarily a State and local responsibility, and ED's budget is only a small part of both total national education spending and the overall Federal budget, as we explain in a primer on the Federal role in education. In addition to this historical background, we try to demystify the Federal budget process and show how it is carried out in the Department of Non-Education.
Well, we sure don’t have a problem with throwing money at education, so if the statement “you get what you pay for” is a true statement, why is the United States ranked 25th in the world in mathematics along with Spain and Latvia, 12th in reading skills, and 20th in science?
Personally, for the money, $68.1 billion, I expect a little more, don’t you? By the way, the U.S. Department of Non-Education is requesting $69.8 billion in discretionary funding for 2013, an increase of $1.7 billion or 2.5 percent from 2012.
The President is proposing a $14 billion one-time strategic investment in key reform areas, including aligning education programs with workforce demands, raising the teaching profession, and increasing college affordability and quality.
These investments will ensure that continuing investments in foundational programs like Title I, IDEA and Pell Grants are able to serve students and schools well. The Department's fiscal year 2013 budget also continues commitments to existing reform efforts like Race to the Top.
Whew … I have to stop now! I’m not sure if it’s the smell of this that’s making me ill, or the anchovy pizza I had for lunch! One thing for sure, we as Americans should all be a little ill with the money spent and the results tendered!
Parting shot: You would think that with The President proposing a $14 billion one-time strategic investment in key reform areas, including aligning education programs with workforce demands, raising the teaching profession, and increasing college affordability and quality, these ungrateful college students would stop bitching about their student loans… Hey, the Prez has your back so vote for him… Chumps!
