Innovation and ingenuity have long been hallmarks of the U.S.' economy. Our competitive strength is built on the legacy of great innovators--from Alexander Graham Bell and Lewis Latimer to the Wright brothers and Steve Jobs. The U.S. has prized its status as a leader in developing creative thinkers and entrepreneurs, but by many estimates, it is…

This report provides information about the performance of 2010 graduating seniors who took the ACT as sophomores, juniors, or seniors; and self-reported at the time of testing that they were scheduled to graduate in 2010 and tested under standard time conditions. This report focuses on: (1) Performance: student test performance in the context of…

The documents enclosed in this report provide a comprehensive and systematic review of the progress made in developing a network organization capable of supporting nanoscience education for the public on a national scale. There is a logic to the studies that were done and to the reports that are included in this notebook. The following are the…

This report provides information about the performance of 2009 graduating seniors who took the ACT as sophomores, juniors, or seniors; and self-reported at the time of testing that they were scheduled to graduate in 2009 and tested under standard time conditions. This report focuses on: (1) Performance: student test performance in the context of…

This report presents a statistical profile of secondary science teachers in grades 7-12 in North Carolina public schools. Data are provided and discussed in 9 sections under these headings: (1) basic information (teachers, subject and student membership, certification, and subject and certification areas); (2) subjects and certification; (3)…

Since the early 1980s, many reports have appealed for improvement in science and mathematics education in the schools. Even when new and/or supplementary materials are provided and made available to teachers, natural inertia is difficult to overcome. This document reports on the status of science and mathematics education improvement in three…

Annually, ACT provides a snapshot of the college and career readiness of ACT-tested high school graduates. This report is offered as a service to inform policymakers and practitioners about selected indicators of effectiveness and how that translates into readiness. It is designed to stimulate discussion, inquiry, and action. This report is…

This bimonthly newsletter provides information about the progress of the Honor States Grant Program, a governor-led effort to improve college- and work-ready graduation rates. This issue explores science, technology, engineering, and math education (STEM), a priority for governors as they try to enhance workforce competitiveness in a global…

For over a decade the Public School Forum of North Carolina has used a study group approach that employs the Forum's Board of Directors as a research team that works with others invited to participate in examining major problems facing North Carolina's schools. A request from the Glaxo Foundation led to the Forum's sixth major Study Group. This…

This report discusses the effectiveness of current educational efforts in the state of North Carolina, identifies opportunities for new or expanded activity, and recommends a plan of action. The first section discusses the definition of environmental education and reasons why environmental education is needed. The second section discusses three…

This report is based on an almost 5-year continual study of selected collaboratives engaged in education reform and improvement with a focus on science, math, and technology in schools serving K-12 students in rural America. This version of the final report of the study is primarily intended for use by educators, decision makers, and others who…

This North Carolina edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's (NCTQ's) 2009 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" is the third annual look at state policies impacting the teaching profession. It is hoped that this report will help focus attention on areas where state policymakers can make changes that will have a positive impact on…

The task force on computer education, convened by the Department of Public Instruction in North Carolina, developed a flexible model to assist schools in coping with inservice for existing and prospective personnel and for higher education to provide training for teachers and other school personnel in computer education. Actions subsequent to the…