Study: Focus On Math, Reading Sidelines Science In California Elementary Schools

The San Jose Mercury News (10/26, Jones) reports that a study from the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning says that "California's elementary school teachers find little time to teach science, and when they do, they feel ill-prepared and ill-equipped." Moreover, "despite educators' strong belief in the importance of science, the focus on English language arts and mathematics - especially in schools struggling to bring up test scores, schools in what's known as Program Improvement - has too often meant pushing science aside."

 

The Orange County (CA) Register (10/26, Martindale) adds that the study indicates that "forty percent of elementary educators in California's public schools say they spend an hour or less teaching science each week, while more than half of elementary principals acknowledge their kids won't get a high-quality science education by the time they go to middle school." This piece also notes that the study cited the "disproportionate focus on improving kids' math and English standardized test scores in the primary grades." Meanwhile, "About 85 percent of elementary teachers reported not receiving any professional development in science over the prior three years, according to the study, while more than 60 percent of school districts reported having no district support specialist who focuses on elementary-level science."

 

The Los Angeles Times (10/26, Watanabe) also covers the study, noting that California is "home to Silicon Valley and world-class research institutions." Despite its overall findings, "the report also identified top-quality science programs in various schools, which used science to teach math and reading skills. Many successful schools also tapped outside partners, including the Audubon Society and a local marine research institute, to provide training and materials for hands-on lessons using such scientific practices as posing questions, making observations and predictions, crafting experiments and analyzing data." KPBS-TV San Diego, CA (10/26, Calvert) also covers this story on its website.